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Highlanders' bursting blindside stocks envy of the nation
By Campbell Burnes
The Highlanders have a plan to utilise their enviable blindside flanker resources, but that will depend on injuries and how and when they rest their All Blacks.
All things being equal, they can call on Elliot Dixon, Shannon Frizell, Liam Squire and Jackson Hemopo, not to mention young tyro Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Luke Whitelock, plus fetchers Dillon Hunt and James Lentjes, who are not complete strangers to the position.
Whitelock will likely feature mainly at No 8, where he played 15 of the 18 games last season. Josh Dickson even had a run in the Highlanders No 6 jersey in 2018. Elliot Dixon, said to be looking sharp after an off-season in Japan, started six games, though he is unlikely to add to his three All Blacks caps in 2016, despite his ability to suit up in all three loose positions.
Squire’s injury woes restricted him to six starts, while Frizell made four starts, mainly offering impact off the pine. But his ball-carrying power saw him play his way into the All Blacks. Hemopo played 16 games at lock, but the All Blacks used him mainly as a blindside.
Highlanders assistant coach Mark Hammett sees it as an unusual situation, but is confident he can give enough game time to all concerned to keep them, and the All Blacks selectors, happy.
“Certainly it will be good competition, which will bring out the best in them. We’ve also got a couple of those guys who can play in several positions. Jackson and Shannon have played a bit at lock,” says Hammett.
“We’ve had no direction (from the All Blacks) around Jackson, but we’ll certainly try to get him time at No 6 and that’s ultimately where we believe his position is.”
The use of Hemopo on the side of the scrum may depend on how well Tasman lock Pari Pari Parkinson takes to regular Super Rugby.
Indications are he will make a good fist of it, perhaps in partnership with the seasoned Tom Franklin.
While from the outside, it may appear that the Highlanders have stockpiled their blindside talent – a la the Crusaders at loosehead prop when Wyatt Crockett, Tim Perry and Joe Moody were on the books – the reality is not quite so black and white. Neither Hemopo nor Frizell were All Blacks this time 12 months ago, and in fact Frizell had appeared mainly at lock for Tasman in the 2017 Mitre 10 Cup. Both were seen by the Highlanders as second-row options.
All were contracted to the franchise.
“At lock, the physical side of the game is more challenging from a set-piece and counter set-piece perspective. There is probably not as much to learn from a strikes and maps perspective. They are two guys that really developed with the All Blacks and can play in that No 6 role,” says Hammett.
“We play a style, it’s no secret, that is quick and on top of teams. Pre-season is about getting physically and mentally ready to do all that. We feel all these guys can do that.”
The All Blacks will need to miss two games during Super Rugby and not play more than five fullish straight games.
Hammett says they have a plan, but “you cannot crystal ball gaze.”
Only Dixon of that quartet will see involvement in tomorrow night’s Farmlands Cup hitout against the Crusaders in Southbridge. Hammett confirmed that all are fit for selection in next Friday’s competition opener against the Chiefs in Hamilton. Just don’t expect them all to
feature.
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Latest Comments
I think Italy were always targetting this match and intended to win. They needed to exorcise the 2023 RWC. I think they could have done with a bit more help from other 6Ns particularly from Ireland to knock more holes in NZ and their confidence.
Mentioned before the Italy Argentina match was a virus that ripped through the Italy camp early that week. In general play Italy were competitive albeit with a high error count and crucial missed tackles.
Ive said it before the era of NZ turning up unprepared for all comers and triumphing is definitively over. If a Tier1 team target NZ and NZ do not prepare accordingly they are in with a major chance of losing. It used to occur the odd time in RWCs against France, now it can occur v any Tier1. The competition has improved. NZ can still be at the top but their talents must be deployed sufficiently into dismantling teams as with their attack then allowed to exploit.
They dismantled Ireland pretty well in Dublin which went largely unnoticed. That allowed them scoreboard advantage and attacking opportunities of which one was enough.
That Italian team beat Wales and significantly Scotland last year. They used the loss to NZ in the most positive way possible. No doubt NZ prepared but I would assume it was similar to versus Argentina: 3/4 arsed at best. These test matches are rare and this was another chance to practice dismantling a determined and prepared opponent which was lost. If Italy had scored a 7 pointer at 17-6....an Italian win was on.
Go to commentsGB = England, Scotland, Wales. UK = England, Wales, Scotland, NI
Nothing to stew son.
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