Top tackler Christie OK with bench
A co-captain might feel put out to be rotated to the bench, but for Highlanders openside Shane Christie simply featuring on a regular basis for the Super Rugby champions is a positive development.
Christie had no qualms about being designated as an impact player for today’s sixth round clash with the Force at Forsyth Barr Stadium – the loose forward realises competition for places is intense particularly given Jamie Joseph’s injury concerns have eased.
The 30-year-old started four of the Highlanders previous five games and makes way a second time for Dan Pryor in a trio also comprising potential All Black Elliot Dixon and former Chiefs No.8 Liam Squire.
‘‘It’s real competitive. If you don’t have the best game or if you’re not quite on top of your game another guys might get an opportunity, which is the way it should be,’’ said Christie, who is second on the competition’s tackling stats with 62.
Unsurprisingly Christie only trails the Force’s Matt Hodgson (79) in that category – the New Zealand Maori and Tasman flanker is primarily a defensive player while blindside Dixon is more prominent around the field.
Christie has no complaints with Joseph’s loose forward rotation policy – they are high impact positions and the Highlanders are two games away from their first bye.
He is also mindful of his bit part player status last year where a chronic hamstring injury ruled him out of the Highlanders historic campaign until it mattered most – the semifinal with the Waratahs and decider in Wellington.
‘‘It was disappointing last year but it’s been exciting so far. I think we’re improving week to week, everything’s going in the right direction,’’ said Christie, as the Highlanders eye extending their winning sequence to five against one of the Australian conference’s three struggling franchises.
The arrival of Squire and Canterbury NPC captain Luke Whitelock has bolstered the loose forward stocks so much that Gareth Evans has only had two games due to injuries and James Lentjes – who also played last year’s semi and final – is yet to make a 23.
Elsewhere the back three has missed the firepower of Waisake Naholo since the opening round and Patrick Osborne – though only for one game – but the unheralded Matt Faddes. Ryan Tongia and Jack Wilson have slotted in seamlessly.
‘‘They’ve all performed really well. It’s a credit to the way our coaches help us prepare. Everyone’s ready to go and all you have to do is nail your role,’’ said Christie.
Clearly defence is a collective responsibility and a cornerstone of the Highlanders game plan, so Christie and Joseph are satisfied with the efforts so far – apart from a four-try lapse against the Waratahs.
Last weekend in Melbourne they kept the Rebels try-less and racked up 119 tackles, missing just nine.
Christie paid tribute to strength and conditioning coach Andrew Beardmore for having the squad fit for the task and although former All Black blindside Joseph emphasised the importance of a unyielding and adaptive defensive system, the players already knew what was required.
‘‘We don’t mind giving up the ball because our defence is so good we can sort of rely on doing that to build pressure. You just have to adapt really fast
The intrigue hasn’t been missed across the Tasman and Mehrtens, a former All Blacks playmaker, joined a Fox Sports panel with former Wallabies Phil Kearns, Rod Kafer and Greg Martin to discuss the possibilities.
Mehrtens was pretty firm in his belief that Cruden, who missed the World Cup through injury, could handle the No 10 role for the All Blacks as he had done when Carter was struggling with injuries and form.
‘‘It’s pretty even, isn’t it,’’ Mehrtens said of a race where Cruden, Beauden Barrett and Lima Sopoaga are all viable options. ‘‘I’d back Cruden at the moment. He’s got five or six year’s experience in the All Blacks team. He on the field to what they bring. It’s attitude at the end of the day. Our team culture really helps that, in the environment we have the boys work pretty hard for each other,’’ said Christie, who made his Super Rugby debut against the Force in 2013, for the Crusaders.
‘‘I remember waiting two months to get a crack and 18 minutes into the game I popped a couple of ribs, that was my first and only opportunity.’’
Christie marked Hodgson that night ran it really, really well for a couple of years while Carter was very absent. I thank he’s got the frontrunning.
‘‘Barrett can get in and do a bit more in terms of controlling the game for the Hurricanes. He’s almost turned into almost an impact player. He needs to stamp his mark on the game a little more like Cruden does.
‘‘Sopoaga is obviously a massively influential player at the Highlanders.’’
Kearns said there had been an improvement in Cruden’s physicality.
‘‘Three years ago, he was ridiculous – you could run straight over the top of him – but his physicality has improved. I agree I reckon he’s probably the pick of the bunch,’’ Kerans said. and the former Wallaby can again be relied upon to be combative at the breakdown – he has eight turnovers so far, though did not manage a pilfer against the Chiefs.
‘‘He’s going to be a massive threat, he’s been a part of our plan for the week,’’ Christie said.
Meanwhile, the Force welcome back rugged No.8 Ben McCalman and Luke Morahan returns to the right wing after missing the Hurricanes and
Ben Smith (co-captain), Matt Faddes, Malakai Fekitoa, Rob Thompson, Patrick Osborne, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith, Liam Squire, Dan Pryor, Elliot Dixon, Tom Franklin, Alex Ainley, Siosiua Halanukonuka, Liam Coltman, Brendon Edmonds. Reserves: Ash Dixon, Daniel LienertBrown, Josh Hohneck, Joe Wheeler, Shane Christie (co-captain), Fumiaki Tanaka, Hayden Parker, Jason Emery.
Dane Haylett-Petty, Luke Morahan, Ben Tapuai, Junior Rasolea, Semisi Masirewa, Peter Grant, Alby Mathewson, Ben McCalman, Matt Hodgson (captain), Angus Cottrell, Adam Coleman, Ross Haylett-Petty, Tetera Faulkner, Heath Tessman, Pek Cowan. Reserves: Nathan Charles , Chris Heiberg , Jermaine Ainsley , Steve Mafi , Richard Hardwick , Ryan Louwrens, Ian Prior, Albert Nikoro. Chiefs matches with a foot injury.
Head coach Michael Foley said his team had to apply pressure for the duration – a failing of the 53-10 loss to the Chiefs after they trailed by only two points at halftime.
‘‘We asked good questions in the first half (in Hamilton) and created some good scoring opportunities, but we need to put ourselves in a position where we’re attacking for the full game,’’ he said.