Saunders: 'We have to be ready for week one'
It’s been a fair haul over many months for Matt Saunders and James Wilson to get to the point on Monday they were able to officially reveal the 2024 Stags squad.
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New Southland Stags coach Matt Saunders wasted little time on Monday to start to implement how he wants the team to play during the 2024 NPC season.
Saunders joined Rugby Southland last year as its director of rugby but was heavily involved in the Stags programme, attending all of the trainings.
This year he has officially joined the Stags in a coaching capacity, alongside James Wilson.
Wilson will look after the attack and Saunders the defence.
Saunders will be assisted in that defence department by Ueno Ryuta from Japanese club Toyota Verblitz for the next six weeks.
Ryuta works under Sir Steve Hansen at Toyota Verblitz and has spent time during the past two NPC seasons observing at Canterbury in a development capacity.
However, he will take a more hands-on role in his six weeks in Southland as the relationship between Southland rugby and Toyota Verblitz continues to flourish.
Daryl Thompson has returned as an assistant coach and is in charge of the Stags scrum and maul defence, while former Stag Kane Thompson has joined this year and will oversee the lineout, maul, and contact area.
Marty McKenzie will also help the Stags coaching team this season in a skills role.
The 2024 Stags squad officially assembled on Monday with the first week often about connecting the players and management given some are meeting for the first time.
Although Saunders was wary about spending too much time getting to know each other and not starting to nail the actual rugby detail.
“Last year we did all connection in week one and we were a bit behind the eight-ball with the footy,” Saunders told The Tribune.
On Monday morning Jason McKenzie, who assists with mental skills, arranged for Josh Komen to visit and speak to the Stags. Saunders described it as an unbelievable speech for the group.
At the age of 23, Komen was one of the fastest runners in New Zealand. Then, in the blink of an eye, he became one of the sickest when he was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia not once, but twice.
His story is one of courage and embracing challenges.
“Then we were off doing rugby in the afternoon… We are getting in a lot of rugby in week one as well as connection because we have to be ready for week one this year,” Saunders said.
Week one for the Stags is a Donald Stuart Memorial Trophy showdown with Otago, followed by a Ranfurly Shield challenge against Hawke’s Bay in week two.
It’s been a fair haul over many months for Saunders and Wilson to get to the point on Monday that they were able to officially reveal the 2024 Stags squad.
In the case of new first five-eighth-cum-fullback Jake Strachan his deal wasn’t locked and loaded until last week after he unexpectedly became available.
Strachan has played for the Force at Super Rugby level before lining up for the Melbourne Rebels this year.
With the Rebels no longer the 27-year-old was scouring the world for opportunities and has now found one with the Stags.
While it has come with some challenges, Saunders was pleased with the group they have been able to put together for the 2024 NPC campaign.
“I’ve got to say there’s definitely more depth than last year and we’ve added some quality in key positions,” Saunders said.
“We’ve got a bit of depth at 10 now after we thought we were going to be a bit short in experience when Dan ]Hollinshead] got injured.
“We had two uncapped players there [Byron Smith and Kaea Nikora-Balloch] so with Jason [Robertson’s] experience and Jake [Strachan’s] experience we’ve got a bit of depth.”
On top of the main squad named, the Stags have named a group of development players. Some may get some game time during the preseason.
Included in those in line for game time against Otago in Gore is fullback Cole Spinks who is coming off a strong club season with Star.
Also in the group of development players are Japanese players Akito Okui, Yamakawa Issa, and Kouta Oyabu which further highlights the relationship between Southland rugby and Toyota Verblitz.
2024 SBS Southland Stags squad
Lachie Albert*, Josh Bekhuis (134), Connor Collins*, Ethan de Groot (17), Mitch Dunshea*, Hunter Fahey (6), Leroy Ferguson (7), Viliami Fine (20), Liam Howley (26),
Paula Latu (17), Michael Manson (11), Hayden Michaels (16), Morgan Mitchell (68), Dylan Nel (3), Kaea Nikora-Balloch*, Jacob Payne (13), Charlie Powell*, Jay Renton (41)
Sevu Reece*, Jason Robertson*, Blair Ryall (15), Jack Sexton (3), Shneil Singh (7), Angus Simmers (2), Byron Smith*, Nic Souchon (5), Jake Strachan*, Isaac Te Tamaki (40),
Jack Taylor (10), Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa (9), Hamdahn Tuipulotu (3), Rory van Vugt (40), Joe Walsh (65), Matt Whaanga (25), Sean Withy* (Captain), Woody Kirkwood*
*Denotes New Cap
Development Players: Kynan Stowers Smith, Faletoi Peni, Akito Okui, Yamakawa Issa, Kouta Oyabu, Curtis Palmer, Cole Spinks.
Unavailable due to injury: Dan Hollinshead, Connor McLeod, Liam McIntosh.