Squire stays sidelined as hip problem lingers
All Blacks No 6 Liam Squire’s troublesome hip is refusing to settle down and the Highlanders are already making plans without him for one more week – at least.
Squire has not yet played this year and Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger revealed after the win against the Reds on Friday that his 117kg enforcer was no chance of making the trip to face the Rebels next Friday.
‘‘It’s a long year, so hopefully we’ll get him back on the field – it won’t be next week, but hopefully in the next couple of weeks,’’ Mauger said.
The Highlanders are well placed to handle Squire’s absence but the persistent nature of Squire’s injury will be giving the All Blacks selectors some food for thought with the Rugby World Cup set to kick off in Japan in September.
‘‘It’s a bit grumbly and been ongoing,’’ Mauger said.
‘‘He’s had an issue for the last year or so and as I said earlier we just wanted to make sure our players are ready to go and fit for purpose.
‘‘We’ve got a lot of depth in the position so there’s no point in stressing our top players if we don’t need to.’’
Squire has been Steve Hansen’s preferred No 6 since the departure of Jerome Kaino but he will have to be carefully managed it’s if he is to be the physical force the All Blacks need him to be.
Mauger ruled out surgery as an option for Squire but said the Highlanders’ medical staff were working hard on a balance between rest and keeping Squire active
‘‘It’s just a bit of rest, [although] I think sometimes the rest is nearly to his detriment,’’ Mauger said.
‘‘It’s just getting a management plan right and making sure he is doing enough to tick over so he doesn’t seize up. He’s in good hands.’’
Mauger’s timetable means Squire is in a race against time to be fit for the Highlanders’ trip to Wellington on March 8.
If Squire is still not 100 per cent the Highlanders might even hold him back for the southern derby against the Crusaders in Dunedin the following weekend.
The All Black confirmed this week he will be leaving New Zealand rugby at the end of the year for a two-year deal in Japan and that appears to be good timing.
Tellingly, none of the All Blacks’ top-four loose forwards – Squire, Kieran Read, Sam Cane and Ardie Savea – are even taking part in Super Rugby this weekend.
Man of the match Shannon Frizell did his All Blacks case no harm at all on Friday with some strong work in tight but Mauger made it clear he is nowhere near the finished article.
‘‘There are a few parts of his game we need to keep working on to give us the performances that we need from him.’’