Stand-in Highlanders captain issues call to arms
Injuries continue to batter the Highlanders with news that wing Jona Nareki faces a month out of action due to cracked ribs but cocaptain Ash Dixon is urging the southern men to produce a statement performance against the Jaguares in Buenos Aires.
‘‘I think this weekend we’ve got to make our mark as a team and really show our identity,’’ Dixon said from Buenos Aires.
‘‘To prove to ourselves and each other that we are good enough to be in this comp and produce the performance that we know we can.’’
The circumstances could barely be more challenging.
The Highlanders began their week with some criticism ringing in their ears during a review of the Bulls game (coach Aaron Mauger described it as ‘‘harsh feedback’’), while Aaron Smith and Liam Coltman were packed off home on All Blacks ‘rest weeks’ and three other players, including Nareki, went home injured.
The squad then had 19 hours of travel to get to Argentina, and when they got there they discovered that fears about the coronavirus pandemic had forced the Jaguares to shut the gates to fans for tomorrow’s game (kickoff 12pm, NZ time).
That means the Highlanders can go one of two ways: they can go into their shells whimpering about how tough life is, or they can roll up their sleeves and take the fight to the rugged Argentines.
Dixon, who captains the side this week in the absence of co-captain Smith, wants more of the latter and less of the former.
‘‘At times we try a bit too hard and then we drop our heads a bit,’’ Dixon said.
‘‘We’ve played some pretty good rugby in patches but we just haven’t be able to put it all together at once.
‘‘That’s a great challenge for us and against a big Jaguares side. It’s a good opportunity to test ourselves against quality team.’’
There is a significant selection shift at No 12 and No 15, with Tei Walden coming back into the midfield as Josh Ioane, who will still take the kicks at goal, moves to fullback.
Mitch Hunt, who was one of the Highlanders’ better performers against the Bulls, keeps the No 10 jersey.
‘‘He [Ioane] played well there in the pre-season and we just thought it’s time for Teihorangi to come back into the team,’’ Mauger said.
‘‘His experience is going to be key for us and we have every faith that Josh will do the job at fullback.’’
The need for warriors in what will be an eerily quiet Jose Amalfitani Stadium is also one reason that Sio Tomkinson has been injected straight back into the side.
The hard-hitting utility back was guilty of a dangerous tackle on Brumbies fullback Tom Banks in round three and copped a threeweek ban, but he is likely to defend in the No 10 channel against the Jaguares.
‘‘He’s one of those guys who has a bit of fear factor about him and that’s what we are looking for,’’ Mauger said.
‘‘We’ve been without a bit of a ruthless edge about our performance and he’s a guy who is pretty ruthless with what he does.
‘‘We’ve been working on his technique to make sure it’s all legal but we’ve every confidence he’ll go out there and have the impact we want him to have on the game.’’
There will also be three debutants against the Jaguares – Will Tucker, Ethan de Groot and Nathan Vella – as the Highlanders go deep into their squad.
Mauger was particularly enthused about the 2m lock Tucker, who may be asked to challenge for Jaguares ball at lineout time to stop their powerful drive at its source.
‘‘Will’s really impressed us,’’ Mauger said. ‘‘He was in a few weeks ago as injury cover.
‘‘He’s a tall guy and a good lineout option, an area where we’ll have to be good at against the Jaguares.’’
‘‘We’ve played some pretty good rugby in patches but we just haven’t be able to put it all together at once. That’s a great challenge for us.’’ Ash Dixon