Five Southland-related Super Rugby talking points
Finn Hurley’s provincial allegiances are with Otago these days, but the rolling of his Rs is a dead giveaway of his provincial roots.
Tribune editor Logan Savory dishes up five Southland-related talking points from round two of the Super Rugby Pacific competition played on Friday and Saturday.
Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa’s start…
It was only four months ago that a frustrated Stags coach Matt Saunders explained to me at Rugby Park how disappointed he was that no Super Rugby team had shown interest in the now 21-year-old No 8 Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa.
Fast forward the clock to Friday night and Tupou Ta’eiloa was starting for Moana Pasifika in a Super Rugby fixture against the Queensland Reds.
It’s been a rapid rise.
It was initially arranged for Tupou Ta’eiloa to spend some time training with Moana Pasifika during the preseason in a development capacity before returning to club rugby in Southland in March.
Club rugby seems a million miles away now.
He’s kicked down the door during his time with Moana Pasifika and has quickly warranted being part of their gameday 23 in the opening two rounds.
Tupou Ta’eiloa looks fit and hungry in defence. That’s an exciting element to add to his obvious power with the ball in hand.
Highlanders Bravehearts game time…
A host of Southland players got the opportunity to line up for the Highlanders Bravehearts team in a showdown against Crusaders Development in Timaru on Friday.
The fixture provided second-tier Super Rugby players with some game time.
Interestingly Rugby Southland academy member Shaun Kempton was handed a start at hooker for the Bravehearts highlighting what the Highlanders think of his prospects.
Another Rugby Southland academy Tayne Harvey started on the left wing with fellow Stag Michael Manson on the right wing.
Hayden Michaels was another Southland connection in the Bravehearts’ starting lineup wearing the No 7 jersey.
Stags loosehead prop Jack Sexton came off the bench, with first five-eighth Kaea Nikora-Balloch another on the bench.
Interestingly Stags hooker Jacob Payne is now in Christchurch and has been part of the Crusaders Development squad.
For the record, the Highlanders Bravehearts blitzed Crusaders Development 48-19
Stags skipper’s impressive workrate…
Sean Withy’s heroics in the first couple of rounds of Super Rugby can go a touch under the radar when the likes of outside backs Caleb Tangitau and Finn Hurley are bursting onto the scene with ridiculous attacking plays and second five Timoci Tavatavanawai is pulling off Richie McCaw like turnovers.
But the Southland looseforward looks more than at home at the Super Rugby level and his workhorse-like traits in defence from minute one to minute 80 is what this Highlanders team is built on.
My concern is what sort of state Withy might be in come the 2025 NPC season if he continues to put his body through what he has during the opening two rounds.
But that of course that is from a completely selfish viewpoint.
Jack Taylor’s opportunity…
It was pretty obvious Southland hooker Jack Taylor was on the outer at the Highlanders during the preseason - in terms of his quest for a spot in the frontline 23.
Auckland hooker Soane Vikena has quickly established himself as the Highlanders first choice hooker and Henry Bell had positioned himself as the No 2 in the pecking order.
However, Taylor got an opportunity from the bench with 20 minutes to play in the 29-21 victory over the Blues in Dunedin on Saturday night.
Taylor brought some energy from the bench. This sentence isn’t one I would write too often but Taylor’s biggest impact was an important clearing kick to relieve the Highlanders of some pressure late in the piece.
Dmac 2.0 from Gore…
Finn Hurley’s provincial allegiances are with Otago these days. By all accounts, Southland made enquiries about potentially luring Hurley back to pull on the Stags jersey but there was zero interest.
His time with Southland appears to be done.
But the rolling of his Rs in an interview following his breakout performance for the Highlanders on Saturday night means, whether he likes it or not, Hurley cannot completely hide from his provincial roots.
Hurley emerged from Gore as an exciting sporting talent, both on the rugby paddock and on the cricket field where he played at Hawke Cup level for Southland.
He made the shift from Gore High to Otago Boys’ High School and eventually ended up playing NPC rugby for Otago.
On Saturday night he turned in a blistering attacking display of speed and skill in the Highlanders 29-21 win over the Blues to further announce himself on the Super Rugby stage.
Jamie Joseph is a coach who is always in search of a point of difference and the Highlanders have that in what Hurley brings to the table.
He is DMac 2.0 given the speed he brings and how tough he plays for his size.
The fact Damian McKenzie and Finn Hurley both hail from Gore hasn’t been lost on most.