All Blacks camp falls at ‘awkward’ time for Highlanders
It’s fair to say rubbing shoulders with a bunch of Crusaders in Christchurch to start the build-up to a South Island derby isn’t something to which Aaron Smith is accustomed.
But the Highlanders halfback, and the rest of the Dunedin-based franchise’s All Blacks, will do just that when they spend tomorrow in the Garden City for the first of two South Island ‘‘foundation days’’ before the June test window.
They’ll mix with the Crusaders’ All Blacks as New Zealand coach Steve Hansen lays the foundation for the year.
He’s also hosting two in the North Island (March 20 and April 23) for the Chiefs’, Hurricanes’ and Blues’ representatives. The second South Island camp is on April 16.
Smith, with one eye on next Saturday’s home game against the defending champion Crusaders, said it would be a thrill to put his All Blacks hat on for a day, but admitted the camp had almost slipped his mind when quizzed on it.
‘‘It’s an awkward one, to be honest,’’ he said after shining in the Highlanders’ 33-15 win against the Stormers in Dunedin on Friday night.
‘‘You’re fully in Highlanders zone and fully in the Highlanders game, it will be a bit weird.
‘‘But these camps are just about learning. We’ll take what we need out of that and we’ll get back in on Tuesday and get into the Highlanders game. And, as we do, we’ll smash each other up again and I’m sure there will be no love lost on Saturday.’’
While Smith confirmed he’ll be in Christchurch, just which of his team-mates will be joining him appears to be a state secret.
Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger paused when asked who was heading north, before referring the question to the team manager.
‘‘I don’t know, actually,’’ he replied when pressed if Englandbound first-five Lima Sopoaga was invited.
A Highlanders spokeswoman later said they hadn’t received permission from New Zealand Rugby to release the list of players.
Presumably, All Blacks vicecaptain Ben Smith, wing Waisake Naholo, and flanker Liam Squire will be lock-ins. No 8 Luke Whitelock, hooker Liam Coltman and flanker Dillon Hunt could also be required to head to Christchurch.
As for Sopoaga, whether or not he’s there will reveal if Hansen has
It will be a bit weird. Aaron Smith
indeed moved on from the pivot who will not be around for next year’s World Cup in Japan.
Just how much detail will be thrown at the players in Christchurch isn’t yet clear, not even to Smith. ‘‘Hey, mate, I know as much as you,’’ Smith said when asked what he expected.
But what is clear is Mauger will be without a number of players as he starts plotting to topple the team he represented 82 times and worked for as an assistant coach in the past.
Beating their arch rivals won’t just improve the Highlanders to 3-0 to start Mauger’s tenure, it would snap a three-match losing streak against the red and blacks.