From Albion Excelsior in Gore to the Highlanders
Gore can claim 20% of the Highlanders' starting lineup in Dunedin on Saturday night, and that’s worth toasting at Traffers, or whatever your venue of choice in Gore is.
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They should be a proud bunch out Gore way at the moment.
Nine years ago, Jack Taylor and Cameron Millar were in their rugby element playing in Southland’s Under-13 country-wide rugby competition.
The pair were part of a dominant group of Albion Excelsior players in Gore in 2015.
Fastforward the clock to Saturday and the pair will both start for the Highlanders in the Super Rugby showdown with the Brumbies in Dunedin.
Taylor has been named to start at hooker and Miller at first five-eighth - their first starts of the 2024 season.
And if we want to extend that proud sort of feeling a bit further, of course there’s another Gore product in Ethan de Groot in the starting lineup for Saturday night as well.
Gore can lay claim to 20% of the Highlanders starting lineup and that’s worth toasting at Traffers, or whatever your venue of choice is in Gore.
Saturday is a big opportunity for both Taylor and Millar.
After being introduced from the bench in the round one victory over Moana Pasifka Taylor hasn’t been sighted in the Highlanders past two games.
Henry Bell has started at hooker in all three games and Ricky Jackson has been preferred ahead of Taylor on the bench in the past two games.
For Millar, he too came off the bench in round one before missing the playing 23 for the past two weeks.
Welshman Rhys Patchell started at first five-eighth in all three games but has been rested for the clash with the Brumbies.
“Cam, he’s benefitted from two weeks at home training and playing for the development team and has now got his opportunity to prove himself as a starting 10,” coach Clarke Dermody said of Millar’s selection.
Another Southlander, Sean Withy, will again come off the bench for the Highlanders on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Southland has a strong representation in the Highlanders Under-20s team with nine players selected.
They include JJ Fisher, Liam McIntosh, Shaun Kempton, Hunter Areaiiti-Burgess, Justin Shaw, Gregor Rutledge, Wyndham Patuawa, Caleb Williams, and Josh Augustine.
Tayne Harvey would have been selected but he has been ruled out with injury.
Highlanders U20 will play the Crusaders at 5pm on Saturday.
Southland’s Semisi Tupou Taeiloa will also attend the Super Rugby U20 tournament as part of the NZ Barbarians squad.
Highlanders v Brumbies - 4:35 pm, March 16, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Ethan de Groot
Jack Taylor
Saula Ma’u
Fabian Holland
Max Hicks
Tom Sanders
Billy Harmon (C)
Nikora Broughton
Folau Fakatava
Cameron Millar
Martín Bogado
Sam Gilbert (VC)
Tanielu Tele’a
Timoci Tavatavanawai
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens
RESERVES
Henry Bell
Ayden Johnstone
Jermaine Ainsley
Oliver Haig
Sean Withy
James Arscott
Ajay Faleafaga
Connor Garden-Bachop
Great representation for Southland, well done to the players selected.