Highlanders 2026
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@frugby said in Highlanders 2026:
Things will continue to move quickly - if it is Jamie to the All Blacks, I suspect that will be sealed by the end of the month (in other words before the start of the season) - but if there is one thing you can guarantee it will be on his terms.
He won't want to leave the Highlanders high and dry, so even if Kidwell or B Smith are in his preferred All Blacks coaching group, I don't envisage us losing them for this season - but we will lose Joseph if he is appointed - I can all but guarantee that he won't see the season out, though there may be a handover period.
To replace Jamie this late in the piece is tough, because this is Year 2 of Jamie's rebuild, and the whole idea internally was to kick on (I have heard the phrase the year before the year) - so do they put a sticking plaster on with an internal interim?
Clark Dermody: Has done it before, but was seemingly building to nowhere - and would he even want it?
David Kidwell: Likely on a Joseph ticket + is not a Union man.
Cory Brown: Feels like the most plausible internal option, given he has 4-5 years of head coaching experiece but notably has stepped back to be an assistant since 2021, and his head coach results were middling at best. From what I hear, not really the personality for the job either.
Ben Smith: Has never head coached before, would be a massive call for him to step up - and again, would he even want it?
Kane Jury: A bit like Smith in that he lacks experience at this level, but has head coaching experience with the NZSS. If he is rated highly internally then he could be a bolter?Overall though, this really paints a picture that any internal appointment would be a sticking plaster, relying on blind luck where an underqualified or an incapable coach is placed in charge - and with the ruthless nature of the current Highlanders board, I don't see them doing that. A fun couple of weeks ahead.
The Landers and hopefully Joseph needs to hold as firm as long as possible into Super Rugby.
Joseph won't want to abandon the Landers. Even a quick recruitment process will go right up to the pre-season fixtures at the earliest.
If he is appointed. He needs to be allowed to remain a Super head coach.
From next year, NZR needs to assist the Landers in finding a replacement.
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Well. I'll be logging off at 3.30 on Friday and knocking back a few beers on the couch
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Excited for the Holland x Lavanini locking partnership.
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@upthelanders said in Highlanders 2026:
Excited for the Holland x Lavanini locking partnership.
We have Lavanini? How have I completely missed this?
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@Bones said in Highlanders 2026:
@upthelanders said in Highlanders 2026:
Excited for the Holland x Lavanini locking partnership.
We have Lavanini? How have I completely missed this?
Mate, I think you must have been on a hiatus right around the time Godfrey was ruled out of Super and Lavanini was signed by the Landers.
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Jim and Hugh Renton retained as captains.
Bit bemused we haven't looked past Hugh Renton. Really locks in the loose trio we will likely run.
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@SouthernMann Yeah I'm not sold he's a starter. An absolute weapon in 2023 but he's missed most of the past two seasons due to injury and I think probably needs to string together some solid gametime before being handed captaincy.
Clealry JJ likes what he's seeing in Hugh. But I'd be eyeing up Groota as co captain.
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@jimmyb said in Highlanders 2026:
If you’re going to have two captains, DeGroot and Fakatava make a lot sense than Renton and TT.
I can see the latter two playing a fair bit more minutes than EdG and FF. More likely to go 80, seems like "bigger voices" too.
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@Bones said in Highlanders 2026:
@jimmyb said in Highlanders 2026:
If you’re going to have two captains, DeGroot and Fakatava make a lot sense than Renton and TT.
I can see the latter two playing a fair bit more minutes than EdG and FF. More likely to go 80, seems like "bigger voices" too.
TT maybe, I’m just really not sure about Renton. I’d happy see DeGroot and TT as a pairing
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Team for this weeks game is out.
A few things worth noting
Choice of captains suggests to me that JJ must really like what he’s seeing in Will Stodart (we already know he really rates Jack Taylor).
Interesting that Stanley Solomon and Tai Crib are both playing the full eighty. JJ mentioned he liked what he was seeing from Stanley, so I’m wondering if that means Crib has impressed in the pre season.
Interesting to see Jonah Lowe at thirteen and Reesjan Pasetoa at 10. Seems to be a bit of a hint there in terms of where they may play some minutes this season. Same with Josh Whaanga on the wing which is a bit of a surprise at this level.
Good to see Hervey, Tengblad, Casey, Wingham, Shearer and Grindlay getting a run from the WTG. Though you’d have to imagine Shearer has been promoted to main squad now.
Only other thing I’d read into is it looks like Soanne Vikenna gets 40mins, and Jack Taylor 20 & Henry Bell 20. I’m sure this is just managing Jack from All Blacks XV but could be a glimpse of pecking order when it comes to Bell and Vikenna
No Ma’au, Dunshea, Big Jim, Jake Te Hiwi, Hugh Renton so assuming they’re all still coming back from injuries. De Groot & Fabian still just back from All Blacks, and JRK & Withy All Blacks XV.
Nareki, Knewstubb & DLB interesting omissions
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The halfback called in to train with the squad... former Highlanders no21 and six minute man, Kayne Hammington.
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@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2026:
The halfback called in to train with the squad... former Highlanders no21 and six minute man, Kayne Hammington.
Article behind a paywall but surely that has got to be a joke
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@Trig said in Highlanders 2026:
@SouthernMann said in Highlanders 2026:
The halfback called in to train with the squad... former Highlanders no21 and six minute man, Kayne Hammington.
Article behind a paywall but surely that has got to be a joke
Good Welly, Otago, Highlanders boy. Right up JJ's street
