The Silver Fern

Presuming we lose on Saturday here is a bit of a review of the season.

From a fan's perspective this has been the worst Highlanders season since we tried to buy a championship with Tony Woodcock, Brad Thorn and Ma'a Nonu in 2013. But, at least with that bunch there were names to create some false home each week. Most weeks we thought there is a chance Nonu will crack through the midfield, Gear will light it up down the wing and our All Black laden forward back will demo the opposition. Apart from a couple of occasions, this did not happen.

At the start of the season many Highlanders fans knew the side wouldn't be topping the Blues or the Crusaders, but thought it should be a 50/50 with the Chiefs and Hurricanes, and rack up consistent victories against the others. Not the case.

From the outset the side was woeful, could only score tries through pick and goes, or lineout drives. Players came back in poor nick, there were long-layoff guys coming back from injury who may have been pushed in a bit early and some lads who got were ruled out early on. Those factors plus poor depth and a lack of talent was a recipe of a mediocre season.

Tony Brown's once legendary backline moves dissolved to crash balls for Thomas Umaga-Jensen and hoping Connor Garden-Bachop could wriggle his way through some defenders from the back. Sadly, it took him a number of rounds to get back to match fitness after a long layoff. Hunt, Banks, Paea, Dawai, Coombes-Fabling and even Fakatava at the beginning of the season were all ineffective.

Fakatava came right and has flourished as the season went on, and Dawai had his moments. While Timu had his moments too and was looking good for a long run post his early season injury.

Above all else there was no consistency in selection, it reeked of desperation. In the midfield it was a pick in mix of Thomas Umaga-Jensen and who ever else wanted to play alongside him. Gregory, Paea, Timu and a couple of others as well. Same goes for the wingers, often the backline, apart from Umaga-Jensen offered as much punch as a celebrity boxing card.

The forwards looked like a tired group of journeymen supported by some real talent. De Groot was good once he shook off the Christmas ham. Daniel Lienert-Brown was a guy that shocked me, a man who had worn the no17 with pride for more than a decade suddenly became this stampeding menace. Our locks were a fine bunch if they were the playing group for a provincial team; A Super Rugby side, well they got flogged.

In the loose; Frizzell, Tu'u and Harmon quality players. Withy worth persevering with. The rest, if you ask whether they would make other squads, most would struggle to say they would. That should be the bar, are the Highlanders signing players other squads would want?

Historically the franchise has operated a model of turning unwanted players from rocks into diamonds. Sadly at the moment this prospecting mine is not delivering the results its followers are after.

Star performers

Backs: Thomas Umaga-Jensen. He showed everyone what he was capable, big strong and generally injury free. Let's hope who ever comes on board next year can also offer a bit of penetration and take some pressure off him.

Forwards: Marino Mikaele Tu'u. Since shaking off his injury rust he has been nothing short of fantastic. For teams coming against the Highlanders they only really need to worry about three or four players and Tu'u is one of them. Big, strong and consistently brushes off tackles. His defensive work rate also improved as well.

Need to see more of: Folau Fakatava and Sam Gilbert. These two will likely spend a lot time together and both have shown glimpses of what they are capable of. Fakatava is much more polished than Gilbert, but the newly minted 10 should get first go at the first five jersey next year.

Recruitment targets

George Bridge - not getting the game time he would be liking in Christchurch. Could be a good option to add some stability to what has been a reasonably poor Highlanders back three.

Noah Hotham - seems the Crusaders are sniffing around. Have also heard the same around Nathan Hastie. Management should bite the bullet and bring in one of the young fellas for Kayne Hammington.

Peter Umaga-Jensen - not getting the game time he would be wanted in Wellington. Rumour is the 'Landers are trying to get him down. On the other side of the coin apparently he is quite happy in Wellington.

Fabian Holland - full contact.

A hooker - who isn't 30.

A coach - following the season it might be difficult sadly to justify giving Dermody the reins.

There should be plenty of spots available in the squad, the management can't justify continuing with what is currently there.

Season rating 3/10 - just one point short of the number of games the side won. Poor execution. Lack of consistent selection, injuries and missed opportunities. Been a tough season to watch.

Some big changes.... All Blacks: Beauden Barrett, Sevu Reece, Anton Lienert-Brown, Sonny Bill Williams, George Bridge, Richie Mo'unga, Aaron Smith; Kieran Read (capt), Sam Cane, Ardie Savea, Sam Whitelock, Patrick Tuipulotu, Nepo Laulala, Dane Coles, Joe Moody. Reserves: Codie Taylor, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Angus Ta'avao, Jackson Hemopo, Matt Todd, TJ Perenara, Ngani Laumape, Jordie Barrett.

@Winger said in All Blacks 2024 - looking forward:

7 Crusaders. And the Captain

Image if they had won again

Absolutely gutted for Grace, Lio-Willie, Hannah, Hotham, Havili, McLeod and Fihaki. They were very hard done by.

Good to see the Highlanders will recognise CGB at the game on Saturday. Hard to believe it was only eight months ago that he passed away. I'd imagine it is still quite difficult for some of the players.

@Hooroo said in RWC squad. Who's in, who's out?:

Just make up your mind and choose one!

Kept on bloody losing my login.

I have a feeling we won't be getting a team prior to announcement, as this one will be done live and nothing will be released to my reporter friends prior to embargo.

SENZ radio said the PR team at NZR refused to let media live stream the press conference. This is just really dumb media relations. The organisation is looking completely incompetent.

We were good. The Blues are a quality side. We are not far away

Someone needs to set up a base at the Aaron Smith dunny, to watch who is coming and going.

Nine kids 22 or under in that 23. While they have only won two games, there is what nine All Blacks in the Crusaders. Massive for the young boys

I'm shocked hahaha

https://www.hurricanes.co.nz/news/article/cam-roigard-re-signs-with-the-hurricanes-until-2027?apcid=006398966146d3bf98085600&utm_campaign=casual-database-cam-roigar&utm_content=casual-database-cam-roigar&utm_medium=email&utm_source=ortto

@george33 and @Landers92

Well...

Like it or not. These (as you put it) 'dogshite' players under the 'dogshite' coaching are the group responsible for changing things.

We have the best head coach possible the franchise can source. The assistants are who he could source.

We won't be getting a whole lot of established players or internationally capped guys coming in. The players to come in are young, and stuck behind established players like how we have picked up Tangitau and Vikena. Or players who have come through our system.

The established players we did recruit in the last five to six years, with the exception of two or three have been awful. Hunt, Paea, Kurindrani, Ben-Nicholas, Makalio, Lowe. Heck one year Solomon Alaimalo was our marque signing and we all remember how that went. At least the guys coming in are a step up.

With our current set up and playing group we are also limited around our captaincy choices. Outside of the current duo. The other choices are Withy (24 yo), Holland (22), de Groot (Joseph seems reluctant) or Dunshea (who would make Renton seem very talkative).

10/12 is a problem. It isn't going to be remedied anytime soon. We have to be creative with what we have. As I mentioned. I'd be interested in seeing something different and trying out Hurley at 10.

The biggest challenge is to not perpetually being in rebuild mode. To get to a point where the majority of our guys are four to five years into their Super careers. Are established players. We can't be shedding players to and having to start again.

In a stating the bloody obvious we need a few guys in the All Blacks. Bring that high performance expectation, and the ability to share knowledge. To do that, we need to have a well performing side to help the strong guys showcase their skills.

Being beaten by 30 points sucks. I have no desire to change your mind. I don't think it is possible. As a squad we are so in the red experience wise compared to our oponents. Chiefs had over 100 international caps on their bench. We had about 150 Super games between our eight guys. Mostly made up by Lowe and Gilbert.

Still doesn't excuse 30% of the field being left open on defence. Or guys missing easy tackles.

There has been a lot of two steps forward. One step backwards with the side. We should have won some of the earlier games this season.

This thread has certainly escalated quickly over the last 12 hours.

All Blacks team to play South Africa: Beauden Barrett, Ben Smith, Jack Goodhue, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Richie Mo'unga, TJ Perenara, Kieran Read (c), Matt Todd, Shannon Frizell, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody. Reserves: Dane Coles, Ofa Tuungafasi, Angus Ta'avao, Vaea Fifita, Dalton Papalii, Aaron Smith, Anton Lienert-Brown, George Bridge.

Really interesting media stand up from JJ today. Covered a range of topics, managing young players when losing, Fakatava re-signing, recruitment were the main ones and the benefit of the NPC for the young guys.

On Tangitau. Joseph said he wasn't willing to risk him. 'He's a ferrari' if he can't stretch out he doesn't want him re-injuring himself. Was probably a bit reflective of the Hurley injury where you had a young enthusiastic player say he was ready when he clearly wasn't. Good lesson for Joseph to take on.

Young guys and losing

• re-affirmed we are the youngest side in the comp

• that the guys have to keep their chins up. Same with the coaching group. He was pragmatic that he had lost plenty of games of rugby over his career.

Fakatava re-signing

• that it is beneficial for the team, Fakatava has been around a long time.

• had spent his first few years behind Smith

• now his his time to lead young halfbacks

• that NZR made the contract worth his while. Suggests there is potential for him to make his way back into black

Recruitment

• it is harder now than when he was last working in Super Rugby

• we realistically need to get the guys young.

• the older more experienced guys are less likely to move franchises. Would rather go overseas than move around the country

• with the young lads. We still need to tell them a story about getting game time and being able to show they can be successful

Bringing players through

• that we have to be patient. Positions like halfback and wing are more suited to young lads. While patience is required for tight forwards. Talked about rolling out someone like Tengblad against Scott Barrett. Same with Wingham too.

Using the NPC

• reading between the lines sounds like he will be working to influence Otago's selections. Said he felt as if Otago wasn't interested in giving young guys game time in the past. Expects to see the likes of Tengblad and Pledger get decent footy during the NPC.

No.

Highlanders in 2010 won three games. Last season in 2011 they won eight from 18.

Otago's last season at Carisbrook finished deadliest with two wins.

There have been good seasons and bad at the stadium. the team still trains outside. Dirt trackers still play club rugby in Dunedin in shit conditions.

Carisbrook was a cold, isolated shithole of a stadium. Good ridence.

@sparky said in Highlanders 2026:

Why are the Highlanders recruiting very old men? Weird recruitment strategy.

Because predominantly our squad is full of very young men. This year was the youngest squad in the comp. We lacked a bit of experience in certain games, so need to shore things up a bit. Smart signing around supporting the young lads.

@Bones said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:

@Steven-Harris said in 2025 All Blacks v France series:

Basketball is one of the faster growing sports in NZ taking many tall athletes off in a different direction ,also Rugby League with the popular NRL right on our doorstep

I've been hearing that for about 30 years...

Luckily there is a really good system bringing absolute units in from old Zealand

@voodoo said in Who You Got, Where You At?:

@SouthernMann said in Who You Got, Where You At?:

I regularly tell my toddler that Dunedin is his home town. He's been there once.

Live in Lower Hutt.

Teams; Highlanders, Otago and ABs in third. Would skip a late ABs game. Wouldn't do it for a Landers game.

I’ll never understand this. That’s not a dig at you, it’s basically the entire football world - but club over province over country, I just can’t wrap my head around it

I’m AB’s first, then an absolute chasm to any of the Canes/Manawatu/Welly

I find the high expectations with the All Blacks to be a bit of a drag. Lose, the world is falling in. Don't play perfectly and win, they are shit. Play well, dominate and win, it is just the expectation. It is all a bit political too. I will watch most ABs games and have a strong understanding of the systems and players. Enjoy the vibe of the pub or a live game though.

With my Landers there is more of an ability to understanding the story of players and the team. You can track where they have come from. The development. Then there is the ups and downs of the 30 year history. There have more bad years than good. The thrill of beating a Crusaders, Blues or going on a decent run is exciting. Same with seeing guys that are a bit of an unknown perform. It is an underdog thing.

Otago has had the same level of underperformance for a longtime as well. It is interwoven into the Landers system too. Tracking guys like Lucas Casey and Dylan Pledger has been great to watch. Will also follow our Landers with other NPC sides as well. Have watched all of Southland and Auckland with some of our key guys being with them.