TRADING PLACES
The modem game - it leads to some head-scratching. A couple of the architects of Otago's successful bid to finally end the long Ranfurly Shield drought six years ago - Hayden Parker and Fumiaki Tanaka - will play in a Highlanders match tonight, for the opposition.
A former Junior Tall Black who switched to rugby and played for Otago, Tom Rowe, will also play tonight, also for the opposition. The Highlanders' best player. Ben Smith, will not play. He is resting for a tournament some 140 or so days away.
Two of the Highlanders forward pack. Elliot Dixon and Tom Franklin. have spent more time in Japan than New Zealand in the past year.
Josh Timu, who spent the pre-season and into the season with the Highlanders. will turn out for the Sunwolves at centre. He will play outside Rahboni Warren Vosayaco, who usually plays as a flanker but was named in the midfield last week, made a decent fist of it, and is back again wearing the No 12 jersey. The Sunwolves will be coached by one of the Highlanders' best. Tony Brown, while one of the best backs to play for the Crusaders. Aaron Mauger. will call the coaching shots for the Highlanders.
The Sunwolves have a prop, Pauliasi Manu, who has a World Cup winner's medal from 2015 but has never played a test. So yes. all very interesting.
We live in a global world and rugby is certainly a trading business these days. Tonight's game illustrates that. Players and coaches move to where the jobs are.
And jerseys are interchangeable - some more than others.