Ioane lands starting role
Josh Ioane has forced his way back into the Highlanders’ starting XV on the back of an outstanding 30 minutes in the loss to the Chiefs last Saturday.
Head coach Tony Brown has handed Ioane the No 15 jersey in one of several changes to the 23-man squad following a disappointing performance in Dunedin. However, the Highlanders’ injury curse has struck yet again, with the impressive Connor Garden-bachop ruled out for the rest of the season with a broken wrist.
Garden-bachop picked up the injury against the Chiefs, bringing a disappointing end to the wing/fullback’s strong campaign.
The Highlanders now have Folau Fakatava, Vili Koroi (Sevens), Freedom Vahaakolo, Thomas UmagaJensen, Fetuli Paea, Garden-bachop and Solomon Alaimalo (personal reasons) missing from their backline.
‘‘That’s rugby sometimes,’’ Brown said yesterday. ‘‘Sometimes you get lucky and you get through a campaign with hardly any injuries and sometimes you get a dozen.
‘‘We’ve had season-ending injuries that have put us under real pressure but there are plenty of guys willing to step up.
‘‘We’ve brought some new guys in and they’ve added to the environment.
‘‘In the Australian part of the competition theymight get a run.’’
Otago midfielder Josh Timu and Southland utility Josh Moorby come into that category, but in the short term Ioane will be needed against a big Blues side that is targeting a place in the Super Rugby Aotearoa final.
In a messy, stop-start game in Dunedin, Ioane was close to the best player on the paddock when he was introduced in the second half, making line breaks, setting up his outsides, scoring a try and kicking his goals.
It was the perfect response after being stood down the previous week for disciplinary reasons, and Brown will be looking for more of the same after chastising his own players for their performance in the 26-23 goldenpoint defeat.