Why the Aaron Smith-Josh Ioane partnership is the foundation of the Highlanders' future
When the Highlanders were faced with the dilemma of replacing star first-five Lima Sopoaga last year, few players stood out as viable candidate to fill the boots of the 17-test All Black.
Sopoaga had been at the club since 2011, played a pivotal role in the unprecedented success the franchise enjoyed under the stewardship of former head coach Jamie Joseph, and was good enough to be considered the second-best first-five in New Zealand behind Beauden Barrett.
He had a wonderful mixture of hard-earned experience and exceptional talent, so when the announcement of his departure to Premiership side Wasps was made ahead of the 2018 Super Rugby campaign, the Highlanders had an unenviable task of unearthing their next star playmaker.
Quality first-fives at Super Rugby level don’t come easily – just ask the likes of Bryn Gatland and Fletcher Smith, both of whom played starring roles in last year’s Mitre 10 Cup with North Harbour and Waikato, only to endure limited game time at the Highlanders and Hurricanes whilst failing to set the world alight when on the park.
What’s more is that to succeed in Super Rugby, a capable first-five is a necessity.
Think of all the title-winning sides since 1996, and in those teams were playmakers that had forged reputations as some of the best of their time.
Spencer, Mehrtens, Larkham, Carter, Steyn, Cooper, Cruden, Foley, Sopoaga, Barrett and now Mo’unga – it’s no coincidence that these players were all genuine stars of their generations and all have Super Rugby titles to their names.
So, when Sopoaga, who helped steer the Highlanders to their maiden crown in 2015, left for greener financial pastures, he left with him a gaping hole within the club’s squad that needed to be filled as quickly as possible.
Head coach Aaron Mauger brought back the experienced Marty Banks this year in a bid to offset the inexperience provided by incumbents Gatland and youngster Josh Ioane.
While many anticipated that it would be Banks that would take the helm of the Highlanders’ playmaking role given his years in a variety of sides both in New Zealand and around the world, it was Ioane that was pushed into the deep end and handed the No. 10 jersey in the side’s first match since Sopoaga’s departure.
Although he’d had a promising Mitre 10 Cup campaign where he showed signs of improvement from a shaky debut Super Rugby season, Ioane’s selection to run the cutter against the Chiefs on February 15 wasn’t one that brought with it an overwhelming sense of security.
With only eight Super Rugby caps to his name, the 23-year-old’s selection instead brought with it a sense of both intrigue and anxiousness as to how he would go in the first match in the post-Sopoaga era of the Highlanders.
What transpired was an admirable performance, with Ioane looking composed and comfortable as he kicked six goals from six attempts to drive his 14-man side to 30-27 win in Hamilton.
As the year has worn on, Ioane’s stature and reputation on a national scale has continued to grow, to the point where many are suggesting the former Samoa U20 representative could well be on his way to an All Blacks call-up.
The quietly-spoken Ioane has since shot down such speculation, telling RugbyPass on Saturday in the wake of the Highlanders’ 32-27 win over the Jaguares: “I just focus on my role in the team, try not to focus on that stuff.
“Still, I’m really learning a lot this year, and I’m enjoying it, and just trying to keep my best foot forward for the team and do my role.”
Regardless of whether a World Cup call-up comes to fruition for the ex-King’s College pupil or not, he has still vastly improved as a footballer.
His ability to splinter the defensive line with ball in hand, or to free up players outside of him with accurate, long range cut out balls has been integral for the Highlanders in 2019, while his kicking – both in general play and from the tee – is a lot better than what it was this time last year.
“I still message the likes of Lima [Sopoaga] and Hayden Parker on social media, still message them with videos on how I can kick better, and even Marty [Banks] helps a bit, but at the end of the day, it’s about going out there and backing yourself,” Ioane said of his refined kicking game.
But, while he credits current and former teammates for his ability from the boot, one of the key factors in Ioane’s sudden rise to national prominence this year – similarly to Sopoaga’s rise to the All Blacks four years ago – has been the presence of halfback Aaron Smith.
Capped 82 times by the All Blacks and a member of the title-winning Highlanders squad, Smith brings an immense amount of experience to balance out the youthfulness of Ioane in the halves.
Together, they’ve created a recipe for a quality partnership.
While Ioane has captivated onlookers with his seemingly fearless ball-running capacity, sensational distribution, and outstanding goal-kicking, a lot of what he’s achieved this year wouldn’t be possible without the involvement of Smith.
The incredibly flat, crisp, accurate passing of Smith is probably the most important aspect of his partnership with Ioane.
It provides his first-five with clean, front-foot ball to work from, with the velocity of his passing giving Ioane more time to work through his options against the defensive line.
As a result, with more time and space available throughout Ioane’s decision-making at first-receiver, opportunities to dent the opposition’s defence through either his running or passing game increase, and with a running and passing game like Ioane’s, he doesn’t need many opportunities to capitalise on.
The influence of the two players has been exemplified over the course of the season, but especially in the Highlanders’ last two outings.
The Dunedin-based club have lost just once in the five matches that both Smith and Ioane have started in the halves together, and the duo’s performances are continuing to ascend into peak form, as was seen in the Highlanders’ 31-all draw with the Chiefs a fortnight ago.
Smith’s passing was so lethal that it assisted three of his team’s four tries, with one of them being a Ioane five-pointer where he took the ball to the line in both hands, leaving defenders Tumua Manu and Etene Nanai-Seturo hapless as he split through the middle of them to crash over from close range.
As for last week’s clash against the Jaguares, the pair worked in tandem beautifully to set free those outside of them, with Ioane setting up tries for flanker James Lentjes and midfielder Sio Tomkinson.
The latter put on a particularly eye-catching display, his best in Highlanders colours this year, leading Ioane to admit that the 9-10-12 axis was a focal point in training earlier in the week.
“We’ve been working on that throughout the week [at] 9, 10 and 12, and we’ve been trying to focus on the connections through the backs,” he said.
With Tomkinson just a year younger than Ioane, it could be a trio of which we could see a lot more of in the future, thanks to 30-year-old Smith recently signing a two-year contract extension with New Zealand Rugby that will keep him in Dunedin until the end of 2021.
“He’s an exciting kid, a quiet fella, but he’s a hard-working guy,” Smith said of Ioane last week.
“He’s exciting, drives our team well, and this year, he’s been brilliant for us. I love just throwing the ball to him, see what he’s going to do. His goal-kicking and everything is great as well, so we’re very lucky.”
The coaching work and selection nous of Mauger to thrust his youngest first-five into the mix from the beginning of the season is starting to pay dividends, and Ioane’s on-field chemistry with Smith is a tantalising prospect.
“We were a lot more clinical, I thought our management of the territory as a lot better this evening. I thought Aaron and Josh controlled that really well,” Mauger said in the wake of the Jaguares fixture.
“I thought Nuggy [Smith] took a lot of that responsibility, I thought his leadership was really clear to see, and Josh is learning.
“He’s getting better every time he’s getting out on the field, so every time he gets 80 minutes of experience under his belt, he’s going to be better for it. He’s growing.”
Now sitting in fifth-place with just five rounds left to play, the priority for Smith, Ioane and the Highlanders for the remainder of the season will be to secure a quarter-finals berth.
But, if this Smith-Ioane partnership in the halves continues to prosper at the rate that it has done this season, calls to see this duo operate at a higher level will only grow louder.
Ioane may have ruled it out for this year at least, but if he and Smith keep up this sort of form together, those calls might just be heard by the All Blacks.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
SBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
7 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
7 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
11 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
11 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
3 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
7 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
11 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
11 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
3 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
3 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
11 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
11 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
11 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
11 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
11 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
11 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to comments