de Groot called to Australia for Force showdown
“I think the tight-five have been on the wrong side of some poor decisions and that has led to a lack of confidence sometimes."
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Southland’s Ethan de Groot has made the flight to Australia with the key task of helping fix a problematic Highlanders scrum.
The Highlanders will take on the Force in Perth on Saturday night in the second game of their two-match tour to Australia.
de Groot was left in Dunedin for the Highlanders’ first assignment, which was a loss to the Brumbies last Friday night.
Following that outing in Canberra de Groot made the flight from Dunedin to join his teammates in Australia and he will start in the No 1 jersey against the Force on Saturday night.
“The thinking is we’ve got an injury to our loosehead and Ethan comes in to do a job for the team,” Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph said.
After serving a three-match suspension Daniel Lienert-Brown started at loosehead prop against the Brumbies but has picked up a minor injury and has returned to New Zealand.
When asked if it was always the plan to bring de Groot in for the second game in Australia, or if it was based on last week, Joseph responded: “Ethan’s plan is a little bit different to our other players simply because he is our only All Black. So last week we gave him a chance to get over a few niggles and get some fitness under his belt and then make an impact this weekend against the Force.”
The Highlanders have struggled at scrum time in their recent two close losses to the Reds and Brumbies, giving away multiple penalties in both games.
“I think the tight-five have been on the wrong side of some poor decisions and that has led to a lack of confidence sometimes,” Joseph said.
“The pressure to get it right is higher internally. We’ve obviously got a very proud history in the Highlanders of having a very good set piece and the last two games, where we have been getting on the wrong side of the referee, is something we have to rectify.”
On top of de Groot’s recall his fellow Southland frontrower Jack Taylor is also back in the Highlanders’ gameday 23 replacing Henry Bell on the bench.
Southland wing Michael Manson is also back in the mix replacing Ajay Faleafaga on the bench.
Highlanders team to play Force
Sam Gilbert, Caleb Tangitau, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Timoci Tavatavanawai(captain), Jona Nareki, Taine Robinson, Nathan Hastie, Sean Withy, Veveni Lasaqa, TK Howden, Mitch Dunshea, Fabian Holland, Saula Ma’u, Soane Vikena, Ethan de Groot.
Reserves: Jack Taylor, Josh Bartlett, Sefo Kautai, Will Stodart, Michael Loft, Adam Lennox, Tanielu Tele’a, Michael Manson.