Sav's Sidelines: All Black wing to wear maroon?
Sav’s Sidelines column looks at some of the happenings in Southland from the grassroots to Super Rugby and beyond.
Welcome to this week’s Sav’s Sidelines column which covers off a variety of offerings from the grassroots to Super Rugby and beyond.
This week Savory again offers up another notable potential Stags signing - possibly the most high-profile in a long-time.
He also celebrates a Southland club rugby stalwart, shares a couple of David Henderson tales, and revisits the remarkable 2015 Albion Excelsior U13 squad.
For good measure this week’s column also remembers Southland’s 2011 Ranfurly Shield victory.
All Blacks wing in maroon?…
A couple of weeks ago the Sav’s Sidelines column suggested Highlanders lock Mitch Dunshea will be a high chance of linking with the Southland Stags for the 2024 NPC season.
We think we might be able to trump that this week when it comes to our signing speculation.
It’s understood the Stags are in line for one of most high-profile signings of all-time.
It appears All Black wing Sevu Reece has shown some interest in joining the Stags this season.
The 27-year-old has been a regular in the All Blacks setup since 2019. Although he suffered an ACL knee injury during last year’s Super Rugby season and missed the All Blacks World Cup campaign.
Watch this space Stags fans.
Of course, there is a slight sticking point to the prospect of Southland landing Reece’s signature.
He has to be in All Blacks contention again in 2024, and if so, how often would we see him in a Stags jersey?
At the very least a high-profile player is interested in making Southland his provincial rugby home and that shouldn’t be scoffed at.
Reece has previously played for Waikato and Tasman at NPC level.
The remarkable 2015 Albion U13 group…
I’ve highlighted this story a few times now, but it is a beauty and one worth revisiting considering what unfolded in Wellington on Saturday night.
The Albion Excelsior Under-13 class of 2015 was something special.
The club’s 2015 U13 stocks featured four current Highlanders players - Jack Taylor, Cameron Millar, Finn Hurley, and Hayden Michaels.
When Michaels ran onto the field late in the game against the Hurricanes on Saturday for his Super Rugby debut, three of the Albion gang - Michaels, Taylor and Hurley - were all on the field together.
The fourth - Millar - was sidelined because of concussion protocols.
Given the Highlanders were captained by another Gore boy, Ethan de Groot, on Saturday it again highlighted the small eastern Southland town is a serious rugby production line.
Hurley, starting at fullback, was one of the Highlanders best in a well-beaten team on Saturday night.
One of the coaches of that 2015 Albion U13 group was Hurley’s dad Sean - who was a Southland fullback in his day.
200 not out…
Southland Division’s One competition over many years has produced some of the ultimate clubmen. A couple of examples have been highlighted in recent weeks.
First Wyndham’s Brad Shaw brought up game No 200 for his beloved club playing against Edendale.
Then on Friday night Edendale front rower Luke Muir played his 200th game for Edendale against Te Anau in another Division One clash.
Muir actually started his playing days with Wyndham but after a couple of seasons joined Edendale in 2009.
That year he was part of the champion Division Two side that beat Star Development 11-10 to be promoted to Division One.
After finals losses in 2010 and 2011, against a formidable Mataura team, it was third time lucky for Muir and Edendale when in 2012 they beat Drummond-Limehills-Star to win the comp.
In 2013 Muir become Edendale captain for three seasons. He is also an active member on the Edendale Rugby Club committee.
Muir is the sixth Magpie to reach 200 caps since stats man Karl Laurence started counting in 2007.
David Henderson tale 1…
Former Southland captain and coach David Henderson joined The Roar Podcast this week in a wide-ranging interview.
He dished up some interesting tales which included the night in his early playing days when the Blues legend went ever so close to joining the Woodlands Rugby Club.
At the time Henderson was playing for the Blues Senior B team. Brent ‘Pup’ Shepherd told Henderson there was spot at Woodlands playing in the top grade.
“I was ambitious at the time, and he said there's an opportunity to come to Woodlands and play seniors. So, I walked into the [Blues] clubrooms and I was just doing the right thing. Brent Shepherd was sitting out in the car waiting to take me to Woodlands,” Henderson said.
“I walked in, and Gary [Muir] was there, and I just said to Gary; ‘hey, listen, I've just got something to tell you, I'm on my way to Woodlands’.
“And if you know Gary, Gary's a pretty good negotiator. And he says, ‘whoa, whoa, whoa. Let's sit down and have a talk about this’.
“So, Brent was sitting out there. I think he was half an hour waiting for me and Gary and I had a talk. And by the end of the talk; Gary said, ‘you know, we'll give this some thought’. So, I had to go out and tell Brent Shepherd I wasn't coming out.”
That was as close as Henderson got to going to Woodlands. He went on to become one of Blues’ all-time best players which included being part of a Blues era which won eight Galbraith Shield titles in a row.
David Henderson tale 2…
It wasn’t just Pup Shepherd who tried to lure Henderson elsewhere during Henderson’s playing days.
After impressing for Southland against a pretty powerful North Harbour team that featured the likes of Buck Shelford and Frano Botica Henderson was shoulder tapped.
North Harbour officials liked what they saw and tried to entice him north to join them.
“I got approached by the union afterwards. But… I was pretty loyal to Southland at the time,” Henderson said.
“And then you look at it, okay, so what am I going to achieve when I get up there [to North Harbour]?
“You know, I could play for North Harbour for two or three seasons. Am I going to go any further? I think I was pretty realistic in regards to how good I was as a player and sometimes, I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing, but you've got to be realistic in regards to where you're at.
“I was pretty happy to stay down here. I've had a great career, and I probably got to the limits where I could achieve down here. It was a pretty good career.”
Blast from the past…
Let’s head back to 2011 for a bit of reminiscing. The day in Christchurch when James Wilson wrote his name into rugby folklore with a late drop goal to win the Ranfurly Shield. Enjoy.
that James wilson drop kick what a great moment