Sav's Sidelines: Southland contenders to lead the Highlanders
Sav's Sidelines - the weekly column that looks at all things Southland sport, from the grassroots to the professional ranks.
In today’s Sav’s Sidelines column, I look at the Highlanders captaincy prospects of a couple of Southlanders, while also getting coach Jamie Joseph’s thoughts on it. I also give a shoutout to Pirates-Old Boys’ latest life member and in this week’s Blast from the Past head back to a 100m Michael Manson try when he was a schoolboy.
Southland contenders to lead the Highlanders…
The Highlanders revealed its 2025 squad on Tuesday although stopped short of confirming its captain for next year.
What we do know is with Billy Harmon heading offshore the Highlanders will have a new captain.
This is written with a maroon eye patch firmly in place, but the odds appear to be short that the job will go to a Southlander.
Southland prop Ethan de Groot captained the Highlanders in Billy Harmon’s absence this year while fellow Stag Sean Withy is a strong leader with plenty of respect.
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph described de Groot as “the natural choice” although wasn’t ready to make any announcements about his plans around the captaincy.
“There has been a bit of change with Billy going. Last year Ethan did an awesome job when Billy was either injured or wasn’t playing.
“He’s obviously the natural choice but being an All Black in the modern and coming down and having responsibility week in week out can be difficult and onerous on those players.
“There’s plenty of time, we don’t kick off until mid-February. We’ll let him get back and enjoy his wedding and then we’ll have a yarn,” Joseph said.
Of course, the Highlanders are no strangers to a Southland loosehead prop leading the Highlanders given Jamie Mackintosh held the role in 2011 and 2012.
Southland halfback Jimmy Cowan also took on the job in 2009 and 2010.
Under Joseph’s coaching regime in 2014, 2015, and 2016 he did run with co-captains throughout those Highlanders campaigns. Will there be a similar approach in 2025?
Life member’s shoutout…
I’m really keen to acknowledge Southland sport’s unsung heroes where I can, and at the very least deliver a shout-out to those who have been provided life memberships.
At the Pirates-Old Boys Rugby Club’s recent AGM John Butler was honoured with a life membership.
Congratulations John, well deserved.
Butler started playing for the Pirates club in 1989 and progressed through the U21s, Bs, and senior teams. He continued to play with the amalgamation of the Pirates and Old Boys clubs in 2001.
He has coached in the primary school grades for 24 years, managed the club’s division two team for four years, served on the committee, and helped in many different other roles.
Blast from the Past…
On the back of Southland wing Michael Manson’s Highlanders call up we head back to 2019 when Manson scored a length of the field try playing for the New Zealand Barbarians U18 rugby team against the Australian U18 team.
