The team that likes to go unnoticed
Marc Hinton continues his analysis of Super Rugby’s top 50 players. Today he looks at players ranked 40 to 31.
On the eve of another Super Rugby season the Highlanders are where they like to be: under the radar.
The Blues are hogging the headlines and the Crusaders and Hurricanes are occupying the top two betting lines.
The argument goes the Highlanders don’t have a quality No 10 and might struggle this year. However, don’t hold your breath too tightly on that one.
While Lima Sopoaga is going to be missed, the Highlanders have the makings of a good pack – big and mobile – an outstanding group of loose forwards, the best No 9 in the country, serious gas out wide and a desire to send France-bound Ben Smith off on a high note.
In fact, when the Highlanders are good – as they were at times last year – they are very good.
They outplayed the Hurricanes in Dunedin in early June last year and at that point had a reasonable claim to be the form side in New Zealand.
It was the dreaded June test break that killed them. When Super Rugby resumed in late June last year the Highlanders were thumped by the Chiefs, thumped by the Crusaders, got out of jail against the Rebels and then lost to the Waratahs in the first week of the finals.
No side will be happier to see this year’s Super Rugby run from February to July in one continuous block. That is just one of the reasons the Highlanders might surprise a few this season.
Another is the continuity in their squad. Sopoaga’s exit aside, there hasn’t been a lot of player turnover, which means that there is a group of players coming through in their second or third years at Super Rugby level.
While we all love to see a player make a splash in their first season, for the majority the big improvements come after a year or two at the top level.
For the Highlanders, that means the likes of Josh Dickson, Pari Pari Parkinson, Shannon Frizell, Sio Tomkinson, Tyrel Lomax, Tevita Nabura and Josh McKay can be bigger contributors this year.
No 10s Josh Ioane and Bryn Gatland come under the same umbrella. Popular opinion suggests the Highlanders will struggle in the position but as a combination they provide a mix of run-pass-kick skills with neither afraid to take on the line. Head coach Aaron Mauger should also feel more comfortable in his second season in charge.
The former Crusader comes across as an organised and thoughtful coach who would have picked apart last season and formed strong views about where improvements were needed.
Already in the pre-season there were signs that the Highlanders will play to their strengths out wide, where you can take your pick from a list of threats that starts with excellent centre Rob Thompson and expands to Waisake Naholo, Ben Smith and the explosive Nabura.
The Highlanders have a brutal first half of their draw – they play the Crusaders and Hurricanes twice between round 4 (March 8) and round 9 (April 12) – but if they emerge from that period in reasonable shape they can push on, particularly with two home games (Bulls, Waratahs) to finish their season. A top-two spot in the New Zealand conference is not impossible.
At a glance
Daniel Lienert-Brown, Josh Iosefa-Scott, Ayden Johnstone, Siate Tokolahi, Tyrel Lomax, Sef Fa’agase, Liam Coltman, Ash Dixon, Ray Niuia, Tom Franklin, Jackson Hemopo, Pari Pari Parkinson, Josh Dickson, Jack Whetton, Luke Whitelock (cc), Liam Squire, James Lentjes, Dillon Hunt, Marino Mikaele Tu’u, Shannon Frizell, Elliot Dixon.
Aaron Smith, Kayne Hammington, Folau Fakatava, Bryn Gatland, Josh Ioane, Marty Banks, Rob Thompson, Patelesio Tomkinson, Teihorangi Walden, Richard Buckman, Matt Faddes, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Waisake Naholo, Tevita Li, Tevita Nabura, Josh McKay, Ben Smith (cc).
Iosefa-Scott, Johnstone, Fa’agase, Niuia, Whetton, Fakatava, Gatland, Banks.
Fletcher Smith (Hurricanes), Josh Renton, Dan Pryor (Sunwolves), Alex Ainley, Guy Millar, Greg Pleasants-Tate. 40 Joe Moody (Crusaders) Age: 30. Position: Loosehead prop.
The second prop to feature in our countdown, and a vital one from a Crusaders perspective. So much of what the back-to-back champs do stems from their power base and ability to squeeze opponents, with scrum dominance a major string to their bow.
Yes, it’s a four-man job now, and, sure, on the other side the immovable Owen Franks does his share. But in this count Moody shades his All Blacks mate by a whisker based on abilities as a carrier, tackler and demon cleanout merchant. His coaches pray the strongman steers clear of injury in 2019.
Highlanders 2019 squad: Forwards:
39 George Bridge (Crusaders)
Age: 23. Position: Wing/fullback
Very much in the Ben Smith mould with few, if any, weaknesses and an array of strengths. This guy has been a constant for the champions over the last couple of years, and is now knocking loudly on the All Blacks’ door. Looks ready, if they need another dependable, deadly, smooth-running, smart optiontaking player at home at either fullback or wing.
For a while the Crusaders backline had impact issues. Then along came Richie Mo’unga, Jack Goodhue and Bridge, and suddenly it’s humming again. The next generation of New Zealand rugby looks in good hands.
38 Samu Kerevi (Reds)
Age: 25. Position: Centre.
The new captain of Brad Thorn’s young, rebuilding Queensland outfit is reportedly being hotly pursued by Japanese clubs for close to $1m a season. There’s a reason for that. He is rounding into a world-class player, not just as a midfield linebreaker, but sound distributor and defender.
Kerevi already has 25 caps for the Wallabies and is an important backline piece for RWC year, and beyond if he sticks around. But in the Reds his presence is enormous. He’s the linchpin of a young group still feeling its way at this level.
37 Jack Goodhue (Crusaders)
Age: 23. Position: Centre. Generation Next, welcome to the big time. An outstanding young midfielder with size, strength, speed and a pretty special sense for the game. A heck of a player, but pair him with Ryan Crotty and you have a centre duo as good as anything in this competition.
The exciting thing is he’s just scratching the surface as he matures into a complete footballer. Expect to see him at the pointy end of much of what the red-and-blacks do well in 2019.
36 Ngani Laumape (Hurricanes)
Age: 25. Position: Second fiveeighths.
Is this Ngani’s year? He’s certainly poised to make a serious challenge for a certain All Blacks squad spot. John Plumtree has a multitude of options in his Canes midfield, but won’t veer far from Laumape at 12 when things get serious.
The pocket rocket has shown he’s more than just a tacklebusting, low centre of gravity missile that eats up advantage lines. He can pop passes, step defenders and gobble up grubbers. Sonny Bill Williams is on notice.
35 Patrick Tu’ipulotu (Blues) Age: 26. Position: Lock.
The Blues have made their big, physical lock co-captain for a reason. If they hope to finally climb out of the Kiwi conference basement, they need this guy on the field and playing his inspirational brand footy.
Big Pat has had his share of injuries, and slipped below the big three locks in the New Zealand game (with 21 tests in five years). But a showstopping run with a revived Blues outfit could change that.
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34 Kurtley Beale (Waratahs) Age: 30. Position: Utility back. The veteran of Daryl Gibson’s Tahs backline, and part of a holy trinity alongside Bernard Foley and Israel Folau, he remains a vital figure for the Sydneysiders. Good on his feet, his attacking instincts balance out the more conservative approach of Foley.
An ability to move around the backline also ramps up his value. If the Waratahs are to challenge again for a title in ‘19 they need this guy up near his best.
33 Anton Lienert-Brown (Chiefs)
Age: 23. Position: Midfielder. Only 23? Really? One of those guys who seems like he’s been around for an age. So dependable