Injured stars picked
HIGHLANDERS Jona Nareki and Pari Pari Parkinson have been named to start in the Super Rugby Trans Tasman final against the Blues, but both will need to come through training on Thursday “with flying colours” to play in the final.
In-form wing Nareki and big lock Parkinson are key members of the Highlanders squad but have been in doubt since the win against the Brumbies on Friboth day, with troubled by shoulder issues.
That meant a nervous few days for Highlanders fans, and coach Clarke Dermody said they hadn’t received the final green light just yet.
“We’ve named both of them but we’ve got our main training today, and that’s when we test each other out,” Dermody said on Thursday.
“If they get through that with flying colours then they’ll be on the plane. We don’t want to find out on Saturday night that they aren’t ready to go.”
Nareki and Parkinson have both been strong for the Highlanders this year, and Dermody said the Highlanders were willing to give them every chance to play.
“They’ve earnt that right,” he said. “They’ve been consistent for us in this competition, both in their own ways.”
Dermody also confirmed that Sam Gilbert would start if Nareki is ruled out, with Ngantungane Punivai coming onto the bench.
Up front, Josh Dickson is likely to start if Parkinson is unavailable, with Manaaki Selby-Rickit set for a bench role.
Co-captain Ash Dixon will play his 100th game for the Highlanders having made his debut in 2015 after a few seasons with the Hurricanes.
Highlanders flanker Billy Harmon – one of seven Highlanders named in the M ori All Blacks squad on Wednesday – will play a key role against the big Blues pack, and put his own strong form down to getting the game time he was denied at the Crusaders.
“It means a lot to this team, and this city,” Harmon said. “We’re ready to go up there and have a good crack at them.
“We’re not here just to battle away. It’s always the goal to make the final so we’re grateful to be there.
“Just getting the opportunity for myself has been great. At the end of the day everyone wants to play footy and that’s what I’ve been allowed to do here.
“Looking back to the start of the season, we had good performances at times but we couldn’t piece it all together.
“But now right through the whole team everyone is playing with that confidence and that trust in their ability.”
The Highlanders won their most recent game against the Blues, a 35-39 victory in Dunedin in April.
However, they were comfortably beaten 39-17 at Eden Park in March, a performance they rated as one of the worst of the season.
“We’ve been up against the Blues twice, they’ve beat us and we’ve beat them,” Harmon said. “So, that last result gives us a bit of confidence going into this game.
“We know what we need to do to stop them, but on the other hand we know that if we don’t get it right we know how good they can be.”
The Blues also had some injury doubts this week, with No 10 Otere Black, flanker Tom Robinson and prop Ofa Tuungafasi all under a cloud.
All Blacks playmaker Beauden Barrett trained with the Blues earlier this week but is not eligible for the final, as he spent the season in Japan.
The Blues will name their side on Thursday afternoon. Highlanders: Josh Ioane, Sio Tomkinson, Michael Collins, Scott Gregory, Jona Nareki, Mitch Hunt, Aaron Smith (cc), Kazuki Himeno, Billy Harmon, Hugh Renton, Bryn Evans, Pari Pari Parkinson, Siate Tokolahi, Ash Dixon (cc), Ethan de Groot.
Reserves: Liam Coltman, Ayden Johnstone, Josh Hohneck, Josh Dickson, James Lentjes, Kayne Hammington, Sam Gilbert, Teariki Ben-Nicholas