Underdogs, but that’s just how Brown likes it
In the third of a fivepart series before the start of Super Rugby Aotearoa, Paul Cully assesses the Highlanders.
The Highlanders begin the season in familiar territory – as underdogs.
Most punters and pundits expect them to finish fourth or last in Super Rugby Aotearoa: perhaps good enough to be competitive for 60-70 minutes but fundamentally not good enough to be anything but plucky losers.
Yet, it’s likely that very description nudged Tony Brown towards the top job after the Highlanders didn’t renew Aaron Mauger’s contract.
Brown is not the most natural head coach. He has dropped a few hints that a ‘world-class’ head coach had been lined up to replace Mauger (the obvious candidate is Jamie Joseph) but the deal couldn’t be closed.
But Brown loves coaching underdogs and he loves the Highlanders. And if you take a closer look at their squad they have the ability to hurt some of the more fancied outfits this year.
Injuries will, of course, be key. Already they have lost prop Jermaine Ainsley for most, if not all, of the season and new midfielder Fetuli Paea’s season is over due to an ankle injury suffered in the pre-season game against the Hurricanes.
However, the Highlanders have two factors in their favour when you compare the 2021 squad with last year’s.
First, they have recruited well. Fullback/wing Solomon Alaimalo and loosies Billy Harmon, Kazuki Himeno and Liam Squire will all add something.
Although Squire’s fitness remains the question mark the word is he has been setting the standards off the field, letting the younger players know what it takes to prepare for Super Rugby.
Older heads Nehe MilnerSkudder, Bryn Evans and Josh Hohneck should also do a job there, with Hohneck’s strength, set-piece nous and ability to cover both sides of the scrum an asset.
Second – and more importantly – they are going to get organic growth from younger players who were already in the squad and are starting to get better.
The improvement of their second or third-year younger players could be significant, especially halfback Folau Fakatava.
His one-two punch with Aaron Smith at halfback is a reason for optimism, while Connor GardenBachop, Ngantungane, Thomas Umaga-Jensen and Manaaki Selby-Rickit should all kick on to varying degrees this year.
In fact, there are no rookies in this year’s fully contracted squad, with lock Jack Regan and Freedom Vahaakolo only in as injury cover for Parkinson and Sam Gilbert: and that’s a good thing.
Difficulties might arise in the tight-five department. Tighthead Ainsley’s loss is a blow and Parkinson (ankle) isn’t expected back until April.
His absence deprives the Highlanders of their biggest athlete and although they have the craft and coaching nous of Clarke Dermody to deliver a good set piece, the tight five lacks ballcarrying power compared to other squads.
Brown will have devised a game plan to work around this reality, but will still need his low numbers to punch above their weight every week when the likes of the Crusaders and Blues try to steamroll them. Hence, the Highlanders will again be labelled as underdogs. That’s understandable, but this year’s version may have added some bite.