Hard work key for de Groot
IT was not luck. It was not good timing. It did not happen overnight. It was not even the bounce of the ball.
It just come down to good oldfashioned hard work.
The emergence of Highlanders prop Ethan de Groot is a real upside for the southern side this year.
The Southlander has come on in leaps and bounds this year and was one of the Highlanders’ best in Super Rugby Aotearoa.
De Groot made just two appearances off the bench for the Highlanders last year but has been almost everpresent this season.
He has impressed with his work around the field and scrummaging.
De Groot (22) went to Gore High School before attending Southland Boys’ High School to finish his secondary education.
Born in Australia, de Groot moved to Southland when he was 2.
He said it had taken a lot of hard work to get to where he was now.
‘‘I did a couple of preseasons with the Highlanders before I got signed. I suppose it has all happened quick but it has taken a lot of work,’’ he said.
‘‘It all comes down to coaching and experience. Derms [coach Clarke Dermody] has really helped. Just every week I have been trying to get better.
‘‘In Super Rugby Aotearoa I had a lot of solid tightheads up against me. I managed to keep most of them out.’’
The loosehead prop was happy with the way his season was going so far. Nepo Laulala was the toughest opponent he had yet faced.
He said more game time helped with confidence. He now weighed in at 126kg, down from 135kg when he played for Southland last year.
He said the weight loss came from eating well and training. Props generally these days play the first
50 minutes or even less, or come on for the last 30 minutes.
He said he did not mind getting shortened minutes.
‘‘We do a lot of things that a lot of people don’t see.
‘There is a lot of weight in the scrums, pull our bodies off the ground. The ones who go 80 minutes are not the ones doing the hard yakka.
‘‘There is close to a tonne in each pack going hard against each other. We’re doing a very heavy squat every scrum.’’
De Groot, who was two years into a building apprenticeship, said the new competition was a reset for the side.
Five games in five weeks was a short sharp burst.
The Highlanders are down on troops and losing Shannon Frizell, who has been the side’s best this year, is a big blow. Hugh Renton is a useful addition and will work hard.
There is a lack of Xfactor in the Highlanders side but there is an issue over whether the Reds can get up after winning the Australian title last week.
The side arrived late yesterday and will be looking to start the combined competition with a win and give a boost to the Australian teams.
NIALL Gregg has been bumped up to head coach this season.
Not bad for a 24yearold from Ireland who arrived in New Zealand six years ago with just a dream.
But his dream is becoming a reality.
Gregg grew up in Ulster and played rugby all through school. He had a series of injury and concussion setbacks but still had big dreams.
He arrived in New Zealand as a freshly minted 18yearold ‘‘straight out of high school’’.
‘‘I came out to the big smoke of Oamaru with the intentions to both play and coach,’’ he said.
‘‘I was very lucky to get taken in by Waitaki Boys’ and was set up in their hostel and worked in the hostel.’’
‘‘I think I’ve lost most of my accent now but I’m Irish and proud.’’
Yeah, nah. Still got that accent, mate. The interview sounded like an episode of Derry Girls.
Gregg signed up to play for Excelsior but quit after one preseason game.
‘‘I just knew I still wasn’t right so I decided I was just going to have a couple of years off just to get myself right.’’
He filled the time coaching and fell in love with it.
‘‘It quickly became my passion and since then I’ve never looked back at playing, to be honest.’’
He coached at Waitaki Boys’ High School for four years and has been coaching at King’s High School for the past two seasons.
Gregg assisted with the King’s First XV last year, absorbing as much information as he could.
‘‘I’ve learned a lot from a lot of great coaches in my time and seen how they’ve operated. When I heard Ryan [Bambry] and Will [Henry] were stepping down I felt the time was right for me to challenge myself.
‘‘Some people will say I’m maybe too young. But I’m of the opinion if you are good enough, you are old enough.’’
Gregg will find himself up against some wily opponents. Former All Black midfielder and Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger is coaching John McGlashan College.
He helped engineer an upset against Southland Boys’ High School on Wednesday.
‘‘I know how hard it will be but this is my passion and, to be honest with you, I want to go to the very, very top. That’s where I’m hoping to end up one day.’’
Gregg said King’s felt it had the side to win last year’s competition. It managed to beat Otago Boys’ earlier in the season. That was the school’s first win against the powerhouse rugby school since 2007.
‘‘But we were definitely the secondbest in that final. But we’re a proud school . . . and we’ve all agreed we want to go one better.’’
Otago Boys’ won the final 3319 last year and looms large again.
The format is the same as last season. The 12 teams are divided into a top six (Premiership) and bottom six (Championship).
At the end of the first roundrobin, the bottom two teams from the Premiership will be relegated and top two teams from the Championship promoted.
Following the second roundrobin, the teams will split into a top four, middle four and bottom four for their respective semifinals.