Selby-Rickit poised for Highlanders debut
The Highlanders have named Southland lock Manaaki SelbyRickit on the bench in their 23-man squad to face the Rebels in Dunedin tomorrow night while All Blacks loose forward Shannon Frizell has been given the week off.
Selby-Rickit is poised to make his first Highlanders appearance off the bench alongside two other potential debutants, utility back Scott Gregory and tighthead prop Jeff Thwaites.
Selby-Rickit made his return to rugby for the Highlanders Bravehearts last weekend after serving a New Zealand Rugby ban following an assault conviction last year, and Highlanders head coach Aaron Mauger said the Highlanders were satisfied that the 23-year-old had learnt some hard lessons in the past few months.
‘‘He’s made some huge shifts,’’ Mauger said yesterday.
‘‘He’s in a good space so we’re happy with where Manaaki is at.’’
Selby-Rickit’s inclusion on the bench comes at a time when the Highlanders have a few injury concerns at lock.
Pari Pari Parkinson continues to be troubled by a niggly ankle injury
Highlanders: Michael Collins, Josh McKay, Rob Thompson, Josh Ioane, Jona Nareki, Mitch Hunt, Aaron Smith, Marino Mikaele Tu’u, James Lentjes (c), Teariki Ben-Nicholas, Jack Whetton, Jesse Parete, Siate Tokolahi, Ash Dixon, Daniel Lienert-Brown. Reserves: Liam Coltman, Ayden Johnstone, Jeff Thwaites, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Dillon Hunt, Kayne Hammington, Teihorangi Walden, Scott Gregory .
while Josh Dickson is carrying some bumps and bruises after three physical outings against the Sharks, Brumbies and Crusaders.
Dickson is likely to be ready for the Highlanders’ two-week tour of South Africa and Argentina after the Rebels game, but Parkinson’s return date is less certain.
‘‘It’s one of those ones we’re not quite on top of yet,’’ Mauger said of Parkinson.
‘‘It’s grumbling away so we’re waiting on the medics for a definitive date.’’
Mauger said surgery wasn’t an option ‘‘at this stage’’ but the door is ajar for Selby-Rickit to push for regular game time with a positive performance against the Rebels.
‘‘Manaaki’s point of difference is his ability to play,’’ Mauger said.
‘‘He played a lot of basketball so his spatial awareness is very good and that helps him understand the game and helps his decision making.
‘‘It’s a real strength of his and what we want to see is him go out there and do what what we expect our locks to do: create front foot ball and get us going forward; make sure we secure our lineout ball and if he does that he’ll get a chance to express his point of difference.’’
Frizell’s absence on the first of his two All Blacks rest weeks opens the door for Teariki Ben-Nicholas to start at No 6 with Marino MikaeleTu’u remaining at No 8.
Gregory, who will join the NZ Sevens programme in mid-to-late March for a tilt at Olympics glory in Tokyo, can cover multiple backline positions while Bay of Plenty strongman Thwaites will help ease the workload on Siate Tokolahi.
Josh McKay has won a recall to the starting XV in the No 14 jersey after impressing off the bench against the Crusaders last weekend.
McKay will be the fourth player to start on the right wing in the Highlanders’ first four games and Mauger said they wanted the rapid fullback/wing to simply go out and express himself in a bid to lock down a starting spot.
‘‘We just want to see Josh in that space every time he gets the ball and really backing himself, because he’s an awesome footy player. He’s just got to trust his game.’’