Highlanders on notice
Jamie Joseph ventured to Japan during the bye week to get a feel for his next coaching assignment, though his two-day fact-finding mission was hardly detrimental to the Highlanders bid to get their Super Rugby title defence back on track.
There was no need for Joseph and the Highlanders coaching staff to delve too deeply into the factors contributing to a disappointing one-point loss to the Reds in Brisbane before their first scheduled break.
The post-mortem was brief – and brutal – once the squad reassembled for tonight’s round opener against the Sharks in Dunedin.
‘‘We addressed what went wrong, most of it was upstairs,’’ he said, accusing his players of not being on their game mentally.
‘‘We had guys not getting into position, not running, missing tackles.
‘That’s generally to do with attitude and we just can’t afford to have poor attitudes going into games.’’
Joseph is confident the team has been supplied with a winning game plan – they had won five games in succession before their setback at Suncorp Stadium – but the execution was ineffective, so the selectorial axe swung.
‘‘The guys who got that opportunity really didn’t do it justice so some of them have lost their jobs,’’ he said, in response to naming a side featuring seven changes.
Admittedly not all changes are form-related – Ben Smith and Elliot Dixon naturally return after recovering from concussion and a gashed head respectively.
However, the benching of Patrick Osborne and Rob Thompson’s absence from midfield illustrated Joseph’s ruthless approach.
‘‘If we want to be a team that’s going to feature at the end of the season everyone has to be consistent and take nothing for granted.’’
Jason Emery’s promotion to second five-eighth is recognition of his useful impact off the bench, while late acquisition Jack Wilson starts on Osborne’s left wing.
Although Joseph was unhappy with the quality of a performance that saw the Reds lead 25-6 before they clung to a 28-27 lead, he also noted a tough itinerary that opened with February’s pre-season game with Racing Metro in Hong Kong.
‘‘The bye came a week late, we obviously limped into that match against the Reds,’’ he said, satisfied the squad had refreshed ahead of a block of games against the Brumbies, Chiefs and Crusaders that could define their season. Joseph wouldn’t go that far. He did agree that beating the Sharks was essential after the Crusaders and Hurricanes relegated the Highlanders to fourth.
‘‘We’re in round nine, it’s starting to take shape but for us it’s just getting points against the Sharks.’’
Joseph, who was enthused about preparing for a South African side for the first time since round three, took no comfort from the Sharks not winning since early March against the Stormers.
‘‘They’ll be hungry, there’s test matches coming up, the Springboks have a new coach, they’re got a lot to play for.’’
Meanwhile, Sharks coach Gary Gold has opted to start Garth April – who has logged only 51 minutes of game time this season – at first five-eighth and use regular pivot Joe Pietersen off the bench.
Springboks wing JP Pietersen moves from the wing to centre so veteran Odwa Ndungane returns to the back three spearheaded by international fullback Willie le Roux.
Coenie Oosthuizen replaces Lourens Adriaanse at tighthead while in another change to the pack Keegan Daniel starts on the openside flank for the injured Daniel du Preez.
Playmaker Paul Jordaan was also unavailable after taking a knock during the 23-18 loss to the Blues.
Mark Hammett will coach Japan during the June international window – they have two tests against Scotland and a clash with Canada before Joseph starts his contract through to the 2019 World Cup in September.