Sav's Sidelines: Southland halfback back from US stint
Sav's Sidelines - the weekly column that looks at all things Southland rugby, from the grassroots to the professional game.
In this week’s Sav’s Sidelines column, Logan Savory looks at why the annual Stag Day fixture between Southland and Otago might be the perfect start to the 2024 NPC season. He also touches on All Black wing Sevu Reece’s first assignment with the Stags, and highlights how a Stags halfback has joined the team earlier than expected. Plus more.
Stags halfback returns…
Jay Renton returned to Southland last week and is back training with the Stags.
The Southland halfback has this year been playing in Major League Rugby in the United States while remaining contracted with the Stags for the 2024 NPC season.
The Stags decision-makers had banked on Renton’s US team the Houston Sabercats progressing to this weekend’s MLR final.
That would have meant Renton would join the Stags a few days before their opening NPC game against Otago on Saturday.
However, Houston was knocked out at the quarterfinal stage prompting an earlier return for Renton.
He returned on Monday, had a light training on Tuesday, before getting back in action with the Stags fully on Thursday.
“He had his first real training on Thursday and will be available for selection on Saturday if we need him,” Saunders said.
It would probably be a surprise if Renton is included first up against Otago given his limited time with the team and he didn’t play in the two preseason games.
Connor Collins shapes as the starting No 9 with Lachie Albert filling the bench role against Tasman on Friday.
Stag Day is the round one game the NPC needs…
When the 2024 NPC schedule was released, I’ll admit I was a little puzzled. The annual Southland-Otago showdown - best known as Stag Day - was penned in for round one.
It’s developed into such a special occasion it felt like it deserved a mid-season game where the two teams and fans got the chance to build towards it, rather than it being thrown out first up.
But someone else suggested to me having Stag Day in week one is actually what the NPC desperately needs at the moment. I’m now also all for the round one Southland-Otago slugfest after hearing his theory.
Here it is.
The NPC has been talked down so much in recent years that bagging the NPC has become a popular pastime within rugby circles.
No one turns up, no one watches on TV, no one cares - many have declared.
Some of that might be partly true, based on the numbers, but there’s a snowball effect that has and continues to occur.
People keep painting a gloomy picture around the NPC and talk it down, when it actually has a lot going for it if it was provided some love. The historical provincial tribalism and a true national competition that reaches most parts of the country.
It’s like when the economy is weak and every second media article you read highlights just that. More people become nervous about spending and in turn businesses find themselves in even tougher times.
Stag Day at Rugby Park in Invercargill can provide an opportunity, in week one of the competition, to help change the NPC narrative.
I’m absolutely certain that those who want to take notice will find a large and passionate crowd at Rugby Park on Saturday.
Over 1500 tickets have been sold over a week out from game day. In a province where walk up numbers are the key that suggests interest in Saturday’s Donald Stuart Memorial Trophy clash is significant.
Who knows what the future of the NPC is, who knows what the future of Rugby Park is for that matter, given the Invercargill City Council is weighing up what to do around the venue.
But Saturday will highlight, for the moment at least, there is life in both.
NPC advocate speaks…
There are few stronger advocates for the NPC’s place in New Zealand rugby than that of Taranaki coach Neil Barnes, and many people in the provinces love him for it.
Barnes has previously coached at Super Rugby level but has returned to his provincial rugby roots in recent years to have some success with Taranaki.
He spoke with Stuff rugby writer Paul Cully for this interesting article about why he sees value in the NPC.
Barnes told Cully the following: “I've been pretty consistent all the way that it's a system that's worked well for our country for years.”
“It's a natural progression with professionalism now for people to forget about the lower levels of the game and the support you need to put in there.
“But it is something that's worked well for us and we can't move away from it.”
Of course, the bean-counters trusted with making sure the sport stacks up financially might have some sort of counterargument. That’s a debate that is likely to heat up further rather than cool down anytime soon.
All Black wing’s first Stags assignment…
While the Tasman team were able to call on four All Blacks for its preseason game against Southland in Christchurch on Friday the Stags had its own ABs help - just not in a playing capacity.
The All Blacks released Will Jordan, David Havili, Ethan Blackadder, and Noah Hotham to play for Tasman in its 36-7 victory over Southland.
While new Stags signing Sevu Reece wasn’t released to play the All Black wing showed up to the Christchurch Rugby Club to run water for the Stags.
Stags coach Matt Saunders has previously indicated they don’t expect to see Reece much this year given his All Blacks commitments but, like Friday, he hoped he may be able to spend some time with the team during his international breaks.
Blast from the past…
Sometimes you’ve got to relive the pains of the past to focus yourself for the future. So, let’s take a moment to do that today ahead of Stag Day in Invercargill on Saturday.
In 1998 Southland headed to Dunedin to take on Otago at Carisbrook and it was an occasion that fell flat when an impressive Otago team ran rampant. That’s despite Southland scoring first.
It was such a tough day out for Southland in a game that ended in “golden oldie” scrums with two Southland props unable to finish the contest through injury.