Prop enjoying NZ rugby lesson
Guy Millar could be forgiven for being a little bit frustrated at the moment, but if he is he’s certainly not showing it.
The 25-year-old prop is in his first year of a two-year contract with the Highlanders but has hardly been spotted on the field this season.
Millar’s rugby has been limited to training with the Highlanders during the week and at the weekends lining up for the Taieri in Dunedin’s club rugby competition.
He has taken an interesting route to the Highlanders considering he is South African-born but after shifting to Australia as a youngster ended up playing for the Australian schools team.
He initially linked up with the Western Force at Super Rugby level but after joining Southland in New Zealand’s provincial competition he ended up signing with the Highlanders.
For Millar, the decision to leave an Australian Super Rugby team and jump into a New Zealand setup was all about learning.
Despite getting little game time this year Millar felt he was ticking that box.
‘‘I chatted to you a couple of years ago and I said the reason why I came to New Zealand was to learn and to improve my game. New Zealand is obviously the frontrunners at the moment and it’s been really cool to learn off the players and coaching staff.
‘‘I’ve had Clarke Dermody [scrum coach] with me since day one at the Stags and he’s got a lot of knowledge so it’s awesome learning off him.’’
‘‘It is always nice to get more game time, but I’m still getting week in week out training and I’m just trying to do my best to put my best foot forward, but also do what I can to help prepare the guys who are lucky enough to be selected each week,’’ Millar said.
Millar said he had noticed some differences between his time in the Force setup and now being part of the Highlanders.
‘‘The major difference is in the way we train.
‘‘In Australia there is a lot more repetitive training, so you do a specific phase play and you do that over and over again.
‘‘Whereas in New Zealand it is about training for broken play.
‘‘Everyone needs to know their role but when it comes to broken play that’s the opportunity to strike.
‘‘So it is the offload skill, and just general skill work, as opposed to stock standard phase play.’’
Outside rugby Millar is also keeping himself well and truly occupied.
He is a part owner of a Sydneybased IT business, and is also working away on another business interest with former Stags teammate Kieran Moffat which they hope to launch soon.
Millar has also knocked over three more university papers in computer science this year.
‘‘I’ve always prided myself at looking at life outside of rugby, not just looking at now, but looking at the future as well.’’
The Highlanders are currently on a break because of the international window and will restart their Super campaign against the Queensland Reds in Dunedin on July 14.
Millar will head south to Invercargill to link with the Stags at the end of the Highlanders campaign.
If they progress through to the final that game will be played on August 5.
Super Rugby players have a mandatory two week standout after their Super Rugby commitments, although Millar said he would be eager to join the Stags as soon as possible.
‘‘There is a stand down period but for me I haven’t been playing so I don’t feel like I need that stand down.
‘‘I’ll take a few days to have a mental break but I’m pretty keen to get down there once this campaign finishes up.’’