HIGHLANDERS 2011
The Highlanders face yet another new beginning in 2011. They have a new coach, a new captain to go with the new format of the competition and their sights will be set on avoiding last place in their conference.
Former All Black and Otago flank Jamie Joseph takes control of a team who have suffered a poor run in the last few years and he will be hoping that the new blood he has brought to the franchise will help rejuvenate the former heavyweight.
Joseph has installed Southland skipper and loosehead prop Jamie Mackintosh as captain, and he will look to tap into the energy of the province’s spirited NPC campaign last year as the Highlanders seek to move out of the bottom-half of the table for the first time in eight years.
After gaining coaching experience in Wellington Joseph has marked his return to his former team with a number of key signings to complement the talent they already have in Dunedin.
Consequently the Highlanders have a squad with a lot of players on the fringes of All Black selection who will want to make a compelling case for their inclusion in Graham Henry’s World Cup squad through stand-out performances in Super Rugby.
Joseph will hope that new signings like Colin Slade will fit in well with proven talents such as Mackintosh, Tom Donnelly, Josh Bekhuis, Adam Thompson and Jimmy Cowan. However, after Slade was injured in their first warm-up game a lot will rest on the young shoulders of 20-year-old flyhalf Lima Sopoaga from the Hurricanes.
Strengths: The House of Pain is a tough place for any team to visit and the Highlanders will have to make better use of home ground advantage if they are to lift themselves out of their recent depths. With a local boy as coach and some exciting new faces the fans in Dunedin will be expecting a major turnaround in their team’s fortunes.
Weaknesses: The Highlanders are plagued by inconsistency; able to beat the best on their day the challenge will be to mount a sustained effort this season. The ‘fresh start’ will all seem worryingly familiar for Highlanders fans who have witnessed a number of false dawns in recent times and have not seen their team finish above ninth place since 2005.
Noteworthy signings: Colin Slade – the NPC-winning flyhalf from Canterbury will be expected to lead the revival and form an effective halfback combination with All Black Jimmy Cowan. Also from Canterbury, No.8 Nasi Manu and young wing Telusa Veainu will add depth to Joseph’s squad. The explosive Kurt Baker and the precocious Sopoaga will hopefully provide the creative spark neede for the Highlanders to challenge the top teams.
Noteworthy losses: The loss of Israel Dagg to the Crusaders is a huge blow to the Highlanders. He is a classy player who would be missed by any team and filling his boots will be a massive challenge.
Coach: After three years of underachievement under Glen Moore in which the Highlanders failed to finish above 11th position Otago old boy Jamie Joseph is faced with a rebuilding project. He certainly has brought some new faces in, but the question will be how quickly they can form a cohesive unit and produce the results the region has been starved of for so long.
Captain: Jamie Mackintosh has only got one All Black cap, and after leading Southland in the NPC last season he will feel that 2011 is the year in which he has to step up and leave his mark.
Potential bolters: With Colin Slade out for the next six weeks it seems that Sopoaga will get his opportunity sooner than expected, much is expected of the young playmaker. Kurt Baker comes with Sevens experience and could be an exciting prospect. But all eyes will be on Slade once he returns from injury. Many felt that he deserved to go on the year-end tour with the All Blacks ahead of Stephen Donald, and after spending a considerable amount of time as Dan Carter’s understudy at the Crusaders he will want to make a strong case for inclusion in the All Black squad.
2010 position: 12th
Best finish: Runners up in 1999
Worst finish: 12th in 1997 and 2010
Home venues: Carisbrook, Dunedin, and Rugby Park, Invercargill
2011 prospects: With so many changes, instant success is unlikely. The Highlanders will battle to make an impression in their conference but may be a force in seasons to come if they can get some continuity going.
Highlanders squad: Halani Aulika, Kurt Baker, Josh Bekhuis, Jimmy Cowan, Nick Crosswell, Elliot Dixon, Tom Donnelly, John Hardie, Jarrad Hoeata, Chris King, Kendrick Lynn, Jamie MacIntosh, Nasi Manu, Brayden Mitchell, Bronson Murray, James Paterson, Siale Piutau, Robbie Robinson, Sean Romans, Jason Rutledge, Matt Saunders, Mahonri Schwalger, Colin Slade, Aaron Smith, Alando Soakai, Lima Sopoaga, David Te Moana, Adam Thomson, Shaun Treeby, Joe Tuineau, Telusa Veainu.
Schedule:
Friday, February 18 v Hurricanes, away
Friday, February 25 v Chiefs, home
Saturday, March 5 v Bulls, away
Friday, March 11 v Stormers, away
Saturday, March 19 v Crusaders, home
Friday, April 1 v Brumbies, home
Friday, April 8 v Cheetahs, home
Friday, April 15 v Rebels, away
Saturday, April 23 v Crusaders, away
Friday, April 29 v Blues, home
Saturday, May 7 v Chiefs, away
Friday, May 13 v Hurricanes, home
Saturday, May 28 v Lions, home
Friday, June 3 v Force, home
Saturday, June 11 v Waratahs, away
Friday, June 17 v Blues, away
