SOUTHERN LEADERSHIP CHANGES

LAST YEAR:

SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC: EIGHTH

It was a campaign that struggled to reach any memorable heights with four wins and 10 losses. After a dramatic final-round bonus point against the Rebels, the Highlanders made the quarterfinals where they ran into a red-hot Blues team at Eden Park.

LUCK OF THE DRAW:

It is a tough start for the Highlanders with the Blues at home, the Crusaders in Melbourne and Chiefs in Hamilton. It may be the best time to play the competition’s three favoured teams – only time will tell. Two of the last three games are at home, which will help a run to the play-offs.

The Highlanders have been bolstered in the engine room with the bulk and height of locks Will Tucker and Pari Pari Parkinson. Tucker joins from one season in the MLR helping New York win their first championship, while Ma - ori All Black Parkinson is back after suffering a serious knee injury that kept him out of rugby in 2022.

Dermody is happy with the blend of youth and experience in his forward pack.

“When you have players with the Super Rugby experience of Makalio, Marshall, de Groot, Ainsley, Johnstone, Dickson, Mikaele-Tu’u and Frizell, you have a core of guys who know what it takes to deliver at that level. Then you combine that with the younger talent available, the likes of Parkinson, Withy, Holland and others, I believe we have the makings of a very competitive pack.”

The backline is strengthened by former Chiefs winger Jonah Lowe and Otago try-scorer Jona Nareki, who is returning after an injury ruled out his 2022 season.

One player worth watching is Argentinian Martin Bogado. The 24-year-old winger/fullback has beenplaying in the French Top 14 competition for Bayonne. At 1.91m and 97kg, he has the size and pace to cause opposition defences plenty of problems.

Dermody says they were looking for another outside back.

“Martin fits the bill perfectly. His physical attributes and ability to compete in the air will be of benefit to us. He is very keen to come out and try a new environment and to further his game. He is clearly talented having already picked up a few games for an Argentinian XV and we believe he is an exciting prospect for us and the future.”

Coach: Clarke Dermody

Captain: Billy Harmon

Home grounds: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin; Rugby Park, Invercargill

Website: www.thehighlanders.co.nz

Tickets: www.ticketek.co.nz/highlanders

Contact: PO Box 6070, Dunedin 9059

Phone: 03 479 9280

Email: contactus@highlanders.net.nz

Team TAB odds: $17.00

FORWARDS:

CAMPAIGN PREVIEW:

The Highlanders start the season with a new head coach in former Highlanders prop Clarke Dermody, ably assisted by Chris Boyd who coached the Hurricanes to their first Super Rugby title in 2016. Highlanders legends Nasi Manu and Ben Smith have also joined the management team. Manu has an operations and player mentoring role, while Smith will work with the back three on counter-attacking.

The Highlanders also have a new captain in Billy Harmon. He takes the reins from Aaron Smith and James Lentjes, who led the club together in 2022. Harmon’s promotion comes after a stellar NPC season with Canterbury and his selection on the All Blacks XV tour to Europe.

All Blacks halfbacks Aaron Smith and Folau Fakatava will again be the spark plugs to ignite a backline that includes plenty of talent, like quality centre Thomas Umaga-Jensen.

WHO’S NEW:

Forwards: Will Tucker (New York), Nikora Broughton (Bay of Plenty).

Backs: James Arscott (Otago), Jonah Lowe (Chiefs), Cameron Millar (Otago), Martin Bogado (Bayonne), Jona Nareki (Otago).

WHO’S THROUGH:

Forwards: Liam Coltman (Lyon), Christian Lio-Willie (Crusaders), Manaaki Selby-Rickit (Chiefs).

Backs: Kayne Hammington (Shimizu, Japan), Sio Tomkinson (Dragons), Ngane Punivai (Chiefs).

Ayden Johnstone, Jeff Thwaites, Ethan de Groot, Jermaine Ainsley, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Saula Ma’u, Luca Inch, Rhys Marshall, Andrew Makalio, Leni Apisai, Josh Dickson, Max Hicks, Pari Pari Parkinson, Fabian Holland, Will Tucker, James Lentjes, Billy Harmon, Hugh Renton, Shannon Frizell, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Sean Withy, Nikora Broughton.

BACKS:

Aaron Smith, Folau Fakatava, James Arscott, Marty Banks, Mitch Hunt, Cameron Millar, Fetuli Paea, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Scott Gregory, Connor GardenBachop, Mosese Dawai, Vilimoni Koroi, Sam Gilbert, Josh Timu, Jonah Lowe, Jona Nareki.