Preseason: Highlanders v Crusaders
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@SouthernMann said in Preseason: Highlanders v Crusaders:
@Stargazer said in Super Rugby 2023:
@SouthernMann said in Super Rugby 2023:
Jack Taylor
He was in the NZU19 squad, but I can't remember him. He didn't play for Southland in the NPC, did he? A bit young, I guess. Good for the future.
He would be 19 I'd reckon still. Or may be just 20.
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@SouthernMann said in Preseason: Highlanders v Crusaders:
@Stargazer said in Super Rugby 2023:
@SouthernMann said in Super Rugby 2023:
Jack Taylor
He was in the NZU19 squad, but I can't remember him. He didn't play for Southland in the NPC, did he? A bit young, I guess. Good for the future.
He would be 19 I'd reckon still. Or may be just 20. In 2021 he penned a three year deal with the Highlanders. He started in the Southland trial, de Groot played in prior to his return to the All Blacks.
Crazy thing is that this guy isn't even slated for a professional contract until 2024/25.
Highlanders have such a small catchment that they rarely if ever produce homegrown talent. By way of comparison NZ has 5 million people, and 250,000 of them live in the Highlanders region. The Blues have close to 2 Million.
The last few years have been a major turnaround for them, with seven of the NZ U20 squad coming from the Otago Southland Region. Of those seven, five were offered professional Highlanders contracts, and they're the year ahead of Jack Taylor.
He hasn't even cracked the NZ U20 team (though he has represented the NZ U19 size). Based off what we're seeing he's absolutely got the goods to be playing Super Rugby next season, as does Finn Hurley and Will Stodart the other two U19 representatives.
Also loved seeing James Arscott have a ripper of a game today. From memory he missed out on the NZ U20 side a few years ago, and I'm stoked he's making waves. Rohan Wingman is another I've felt slipped under the national radar. Our talent identification down South is really turning this team around.
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@kiwi_expat said in Preseason: Highlanders v Crusaders:
@SouthernMann said in Preseason: Highlanders v Crusaders:
@Stargazer said in Super Rugby 2023:
@SouthernMann said in Super Rugby 2023:
Jack Taylor
He was in the NZU19 squad, but I can't remember him. He didn't play for Southland in the NPC, did he? A bit young, I guess. Good for the future.
He would be 19 I'd reckon still. Or may be just 20. In 2021 he penned a three year deal with the Highlanders. He started in the Southland trial, de Groot played in prior to his return to the All Blacks.
Crazy thing is that this guy isn't even slated for a professional contract until 2024/25.
Highlanders have such a small catchment that they rarely if ever produce homegrown talent. By way of comparison NZ has 5 million people, and 250,000 of them live in the Highlanders region. The Blues have close to 2 Million.
The last few years have been a major turnaround for them, with seven of the NZ U20 squad coming from the Otago Southland Region. Of those seven, five were offered professional Highlanders contracts, and they're the year ahead of Jack Taylor.
He hasn't even cracked the NZ U20 team (though he has represented the NZ U19 size). Based off what we're seeing he's absolutely got the goods to be playing Super Rugby next season, as does Finn Hurley and Will Stodart the other two U19 representatives.
Also loved seeing James Arscott have a ripper of a game today. From memory he missed out on the NZ U20 side a few years ago, and I'm stoked he's making waves. Rohan Wingman is another I've felt slipped under the national radar. Our talent identification down South is really turning this team around.
Yeah I hope Wingham gets a good run with Otago this year. Could have a decent 1-2 punch with Abraham Pole. Then eventually the same with the Highlanders and de Groot. Going to be interesting to see how these young loose forwards are managed and given gametime. Stodart, Withy, Haig and Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa all at Otago. While Hayden Michaels who has a fulltime for the Highlanders in 2024 is with Southland. It is quite a group of loosies. Otago also has a bit of a conundrum over its 10/15s with Miller, Hurley, Faleafaga, Ioane, Koroi and Gilbert competing for spots. Does Otago loan say Hurley and Stodart down to Southland to ensure they get gametime? A lot of the young players are focused in those positions, it is important they get a decent run to showcase their skills.
