Brown may give up top job at Highlanders in 2022 Bundee bungees into Lions squad
7
7. Sione Havili Talitui: A standout for Tasman, the tough No 7 has found the step up to Super Rugby a sizeable one. 6
6. Ethan Blackadder: Brings incredible energy every time he plays after a tough run of injuries. Must be close to an All Blacks callup. 8
5. Samwhitelock: He has been the standout lock in New Zealand rugby once more. When the Crusaders’ backs are against the wall, they look to the big man. 9
4. Scott Barrett: The perfect time to find some form, because he has been quiet by his own standards. Working hard but hasn’t dominated. 7.5
3. Michael Alaalatoa: The Crusaders scrum bullied the Chiefs in Christchurch earlier this year, but they’ll be expecting a tougher clash. 7.5
2. Codie Taylor: The best player in Super Rugby Aotearoa this year. There can’t be a fitter front-rower in the country. 9
1. George Bower: Put on a lot of weight quickly at the end of the last year and hasn’t been as dynamic around the paddock. But that won’t be where he is judged on Saturday. 6.5
Reserves:
Brodie Mcalister 6.5, Tamaitiwilliams Oliver Jager 6.5, Mitchell Dunshea Tom Sanders 7, Bryn Hall 6.5, Dallas Mcleod Braydon Ennor 7.5.
Tony Brown has made the surprise admission that he would be happy to give up the head coach role in 2022 if Clarke Dermody displays the ‘‘master’s touch’’ during the upcoming Super Rugby TransTasman competition.
Brown will miss the entire sixweek competition against the five Australian Super Rugby sides after revealing he will head to Japan next Wednesday to prepare the Brave Blossoms for their one-off test against the British and Irish Lions in late June.
That has left the Highlanders, who are already dealing with an injury crisis, with an awkward situation to deal with but Brown admitted yesterday that should Dermody flourish in the head coaching position over the next few months there could be a reversal of their current roles in 2022.
‘‘I’m sure he will do a great job,’’ Brown said. ‘‘He’s a Highlanders head coach in the future. I’m happy to let him continue as head coach for sure if he’s got the master touch. I think that’s really important.
‘‘I’ve always been the guy who will do whatever for the team. So, whatever happens, happens.’’
Brown will still play a role with the Highlanders while on duty as Japan’s attack coach alongside Jamie Joseph, a spell that will initially involve two weeks of selfisolating upon arrival in Japan.
He will put together the Highlanders’ game plans and review games, but he has effectively handed over the day to day reins to Dermody, who was already being groomed to take over at the Highlanders when Brown’s contract runs out at the end of 2022.
Brown said he had ‘‘100 per cent’’ faith in Dermody and revealed that he took on the Highlanders head coaching role in part because Dermody was already busy with Tasman’s provincial campaign in 2021.
‘‘He’s a head coach with Tasman, and he understands the head coaching job, and he’s capable of doing it,’’ Brown said.
‘‘For me, I’m comfortable with ‘Derms’ as head coach and myself as assistant as well. I’m not really too concerned around who takes the head role. He’s definitely capable and I enjoy doing it as well. So whatever will be, will be.’’
Dermody has been co-head coach of Tasman for the past two years, winning two titles alongside Andrew Goodman, but he will not return to the Mako this year, potentially freeing him up to take the head coaching role at the Highlanders.
In the short term, the Highlanders will at least have the services of form No 8 Kazuki Himeno. Brown’s departure has raised fear the Japanese star would also be lost during the Super Rugby Trans-tasman competition, but Brown said Himeno would be available for it all and would then fly to Scotland to meet up with the Japanese side.
The situation highlights Brown’s unique contractual status. He is employed by the Highlanders and the Japanese Rugby Football Union, not New Zealand Rugby like the other Super Rugby coaches.
However, as Japan were his employers before he took the Highlanders job – and Brown needed their blessing to take on the Super Rugby role – it appears that Japanese commitments were always going to take priority in the event of a clash.
‘‘I’ve had good conversations with ‘Rog’ [Highlanders CEO Roger Clark] around my commitment to Japan,’’ Brown said. ‘‘He understands that, and he understood that when he signed me on as Highlanders coach.’’
In a statement, Clark said the ‘‘situation ...doesn’t sit comfortably with anyone’’ but had faith in Dermody guide the side through the games against the Australians.
‘‘No one could have predicted it would come to this, due to the pandemic the Lions tour itinerary has been completely up in the air for the better part of a year,’’ Clark said.
‘‘The way it has worked out means Brownie’s international obligations suddenly overlap with his Sky Super Rugby duties which obviously is a situation that doesn’t sit comfortably with anyone.
‘‘However, as an organisation we know we still have his services even though he is not on the ground with us, we have every faith in Clarke and the coaching and management group to deal with the challenge.’’
Brown said telling the Highlanders’ players had been a difficult conversation.
‘‘It was tough telling the players, especially the leaders,’’ he said. ‘‘We’ve put a lot of effort into this campaign.’’
The Highlanders start their Super Rugby Trans-tasman campaign with a tough home game against the Reds on Friday week.
Ireland’s New Zealand midfield back Bundee Aki has gained a place in a British & Irish squad notable for high-profile omissions as coach Warren Gatland looks for success on the tour of South Africa.
The hard-running 31-year-old former Counties Manukau and Chiefs player booked his spot against expectation, on the back of 31 tests for Ireland since moving north in 2014.
Ireland captain Jonathan Sexton was the big absence in the 37-man British and Irish Lions squad that will tour July and August, with Gatland selecting an even spread of players from the four home unions.
In the great Alun Wyn Jones, Warren Gatland went with world rugby’s safest pair of hands as his captain for the Lions’ tour of South Africa.
The surprises were saved for elsewhere.
No Sexton, the Ireland captain who was world player of the year as recently as 2018 and top scorer in this year’s Six Nations.
No Billy Vunipola, the No 8 who has provided much of England’s goforward in the Eddie Jones era.
No Jonathan Davies, the reliable Wales centre who was the Lions’ player of the drawn series against the All Blacks in 2017.
But Gatland, understandably, wanted to focus on the players who were selected to go on a tour that was under threat until last month – and still carries with it uncertainties because of the pandemic.
In a Lions squad that largely reflected this year’s highly competitive Six Nations, England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland all had eight to 11 representatives.
Eight Scots is the country’s highest number since 1989, perhaps showing the influence Scotland coach Gregor Townsend – one of Gatland’s assistants – had on selection.
Jones, tour captain for the first time and in his fourth straight Lions squad, is one of 10 players from Six Nations champion Wales. 7.5
1. Aidan Ross: The turnaround in the Chiefs scrum has been remarkable and the big Bay of Plenty man has been central to that. 7.5 Reserves:
Bradley Slater Ollie Norris 7, Sione Mafileo 6.5, Naitoa Ah Kuoi Zane Kapeli 6.5, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi Rameka Poihipi 6.5, Chase Tiatia
England had 11, a lower-thanexpected contingent which highlighted the team’s struggles in the Six Nations but included Sam Simmonds – a No 8 without a test cap since March 2018.
Quite why Simmonds has been ignored by Jones is a mystery, given he is the reigning European player of the year and a superstar for European champion Exeter.
Ireland’s eight players did not include 35-year-old Sexton, a player Townsend called one of the ‘‘best players in the world’’.
Owen Farrell, Dan Biggar and
British and Irish Lions squad: Forwards: Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), Jack Conan (Ireland), Luke CowanDickie (England), Tom Curry (England), Zander Fagerson (Scotland), Taulupe Faletau (Wales), Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), Jamie George (England), Iain Henderson (Ireland), Jonny Hill (England), Maro Itoje (England), Alun Wyn Jones (Wales, captain), Wyn Jones (Wales), Courtney Lawes (England), Ken Owens (Wales), Andrew Porter (Ireland), Sam Simmonds (England), Rory Sutherland (Scotland), Justin Tipuric (Wales), Mako Vunipola (England), Hamishwatson (Scotland).
Backs: Josh Adams (Wales), Bundee Aki (Ireland), Dan Biggar (Wales), Elliot Daly (England), Gareth Davies (Wales), Owen Farrell (England), Chris Harris (Scotland), Robbie Henshaw (Ireland), Stuart Hogg (Scotland), Conor Murray (Ireland), Ali Price (Scotland), Louis ReesZammit (Wales), Finn Russell (Scotland), Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland), Anthonywatson (England), Liam Williams (Wales).
Finn Russell were the first fiveeighths chosen by Gatland, setting up what could prove to be the most competitive selection fights anywhere in the squad for the test series.
Other leading players overlooked were England pair Kyle Sinckler and Jonny May, and Ireland lock James Ryan.