Battle looms in Stags loose forwards

A scrap is brewing for the Stags’ No 7 jersey this season with two genuine openside flankers already locked in and centurion Tim Boys still yet to be signed.

Stags coach Hoani Macdonald said last week he had concerns with the depth of the locking and outside backs but otherwise was comfortable with where they were at.

One of the areas of strength is with their openside flanker options as they build towards the start of the season in August.

The Stags have signed former Cronulla and Penrith NRL player Tupou Sopoaga who views himself as an openside flanker.

The brother of All Black first five-eighth Lima Sopoaga was a schoolboy rugby star before switching to rugby league. Sopoaga has linked with the Woodlands club in Southland this year and has quickly been whisked into the Highlanders set up as injury cover.

Marist flanker Phil Halder has also signed for what will be his third campaign with the Stags.

It’s understood Boys is keen to also line up again for the Stags in 2017 and the Stags decision-makers are keen for him to return. Boys has been one of Southland’s best players since he made his debut for the Stags in 2006.

The 33-year-old has played 117 games for Southland and has led the province’s defensive efforts year in year out.

Boys missed the start of the 2016 provincial season following surgery to his thumb but started in the final four games of the season, which provided plenty of experience for a relatively green team.

Wade McRae was another openside flanker used last season, but he has some concussion problems and when, or if, he returns remains up in the air.

It isn’t the first time Southland has been handed an openside dilemma.

Boys has carved out a good chunk of his career alongside another genuine No 7 option in John Hardie before Hardie shifted to Scotland.

Then Stags coach David Henderson opted to play both Boys and Hardie in a combination which worked well.