Breaks reach absurd levels
It’s time to peer into the microscope and take a closer look at the Highlanders.
Unfortunately, it’s not a pretty sight. Skipper James Lentjes is gone for the season with a horrific leg injury, the bold gamble to play Josh Ioane out of position at No 12 isn’t working and the return of assistant coach Tony Brown hasn’t resulted in much pepper being added to the attack.
Remember, Ioane was good enough to be on the bench as the reserve No 10 for the All Blacks in Buenos Aires last year. Now he can’t get games in that position for his club.
The Super Rugby log doesn’t lie: the Highlanders have bagged five points after recording just one win from four games. This rebuilding phase is in danger of turning into a demolition job. It’s got to be a worry for their fans in the south.
1. If the Highlanders succumb to the Bulls in Pretoria are their playoff hopes toast?
It’s quite possible. The New Zealanders must wear their hardest pith helmets and have their bayonets sharpened at Loftus Versfeld.
The problem for the Highlanders is the Bulls, who gave yet to secure a victory this year, have their own demons to tame.
The draw isn’t kind, either. The Highlanders’ next game is against the Jaguares in Buenos Aires.
2. Aaron Mauger’s in the third, and final, year of his contract as Highlanders head coach. Now what?
Mauger replaced Brown ahead of the 2018 season because the latter had relocated to Japan to help prepare the Brave Blossoms for the World Cup. It’s possible Highlanders administrators are already in discussions with coaches about the future.
Will Mauger want to continue, or will forwards coach Mark Hammett, who has previously worked as head coach of the Hurricanes, be keen for a promotion?
Or could Brown juggle the role of head coach, as well as continue to assist Jamie Joseph with the Japan national side through to the 2023 World Cup?
Mauger got the Highlanders as far as the quarterfinals in 2018 and 2019. Making the postseason in 2020 already looks like a long shot.
3. The Chiefs hierarchy aren’t afraid to be unorthodox when appointing head coaches.
With NZ Maori and Bay of Plenty provincial coach Clayton McMillan picked to run the Chiefs when Warren Gatland takes a leave of absence to guide the British and Irish Lions in 2021, administrators have elected to bring in a fresh face. Again.
This follows Gatland being ushered in to replace Colin Cooper, who still had a year remaining on his contract, when his deal with Wales expired after the World Cup last year.
Chiefs CEO Michael Collins declined to say whether any of the six assistants had applied to be head coach in 2021. Or to provide details of their contract status beyond this season. We’re all in the dark.
That includes those Chiefs fans who continue to show loyalty by coughing up the coin to watch games in the Tron. Let’s hope it’s a two-way street.
4. Check this out for a drought.
The Chiefs haven’t beaten the Waratahs in Australia since 2007.
Back then Ian Foster was the Chiefs coach, you could still get a decent crowd at a Super Rugby game and current captain Sam Cane was just 15.
5. Here’s another dry spell.
The Blues have lost their last nine games against the Hurricanes, recording their last triumph against them in Auckland in May, 2014.
Now for something to keep the glass half-full crowd happy: The Blues are on a roll when it comes to recording wins away from home, with victories over the Stormers, Bulls and Waratahs.