Whitelock presents tall test
Forget the North versus South contest. If Highlanders locks Josh Dickson and Pari Pari Parkinson want to become All Blacks their trial game is against the Crusaders’ Sam Whitelock tonight.
The Highlanders’ big men have impressed in Super Rugby Aotearoa with their complementary skillsets.
Dickson, 25, is a smart and accurate operator and has a big engine, allowing him to churn through 80 minutes of work.
Parkinson, 23, is strong at set-piece time, can move bodies from the breakdown better than anyone in Dunedin, and plays a role as a distributor in the Highlanders’ attack structure.
The value of those abilities has increased with All Black Scott Barrett injured and Brodie Retallick in the middle of his twoseason Japanese deal, but grizzled veteran Whitelock will give the Highlanders’ pair an excellent indication of where they really stand in the South Island derby in Dunedin.
‘‘It’s exciting for those guys,’’ Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger said.
‘‘Whitelock has been at the top of his game for a long period of time, and for our guys that’s where they want to be.
‘‘They’ve certainly made some big strides forward this season.
‘‘Particularly in the last couple of games those guys have really led the charge up front, so it’s an exciting opportunity for them.’’
Forsyth Barr Stadium will be no place for the faint-hearted tonight, especially with a big crowd that could crack the 20,000 mark, and the scrum will also be key.
Coincidentally, All Blacks scrum guru Greg Feek was at Highlanders HQ this week as part of his tour of the franchises, and he will no doubt be interested to see how new Highlanders No 3 Jeff Thwaites handles Joe Moody.
Scrum numbers have been down in Super Rugby Aotearoa but All Blacks hardman Moody doesn’t need many opportunities to make life uncomfortable for opponents.
Still, Mauger backed Thwaites to pass the examination.
‘‘We’ve got six props that can do the job for us, and three hookers,’’ Mauger said.
‘‘But we just thought it was a good time to change up this week.
‘‘We just wanted to show some different pictures and reward the other three guys for performing well.
‘‘Don’t read too much into it, it’s just a wee change up and those guys have added a lot of energy at the start of the week and that’s how we want to start, with lots of energy.’’
That reduction in the number of scrums has been a feature of Super Rugby Aotearoa, which is being played under new directives at the breakdown, and Mauger also said that a firmer policing of the offside line had been successful in creating more space.
‘‘I think it’s hugely important,’’ Mauger said. ‘‘What that allows is for attacking teams to have the confidence to play.
‘‘Previously, it hasn’t been policed as well, so you’re getting momentum in your game and then it’s being negated by teams not getting back onside.
‘‘That’s what we [Super Rugby coaches] asked for and that’s what they [match officials] delivered.
‘‘Everyone was up in arms in the first couple of weeks because there was so many penalties, but they nailed it.
‘‘And now we’re seeing defensive teams get back onside, and it’s encouraging attacking teams to have a crack.’’
So, the Highlanders will throw their best shots at the Crusaders tonight, but it still all starts up front.