Dermody nails audition for Highlanders’ coach
OPINION: Win or lose against the Blues on Saturday, Clarke Dermody has earnt the right to be considered head coach in waiting at the Highlanders.
The 41-year-old Southlander was handed a potentially difficult job for Super Rugby Trans Tasman when head coach Tony Brown headed to Japan to fulfil his overlapping test commitments, but five games later the Highlanders are in the final. Regarded within the organisation as a task-focused, ‘next job’ type of character, those traits have come to the fore over the past five weeks as the Highlanders found a level of consistency that has been lacking for years.
No one at the Highlanders plays down Brown’s continued influence – even from Japan he provides much of the Highlanders’ rugby framework – but Super Rugby Trans Tasman was always going to be an audition for Dermody. He’s hit the right notes.
The Highlanders always viewed him as the man to take over from Brown in 2023, when the latter will focus on Japan’s Rugby World Cup campaign alongside Jamie Joseph.
But they were never going to hand the job to him on a platter, and for all the disruption caused by Brown’s dual roles it has allowed the Highlanders to see how Dermody coped with the extra responsibility.
His success has been such that it may even prompt a debate about who leads the side in 2022. Before he left for Japan, Brown made the surprise admission that he would be content to take the assistant’s role next year. ‘‘I’m sure he will do a great job,’’ Brown said of Dermody then. ‘‘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.
‘‘ .... 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’s work with the forwards hasn’t been compromised by being the Highlanders’ frontman during Super Rugby Trans Tasman.
The lineout is operating at a competition-high 92.3 per cent, and Billy Harmon’s try against the Brumbies on Friday was another from the Highlanders’ bag of tricks at the set-piece.
At scrum time, young loosehead Ethan de Groot is growing into very good prospect.
However, it’s the Highlanders’ ability to put back-to-back performances together than will likely leave the most favourable impression on the board.
The next job is to bring back some silverware on Saturday.