Sav's Sidelines: Propping production line keeps rolling on
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 covers off the significant blow that took place at Southland Stags training on Thursday. He asks if the chances of All Blacks wing Sevu Reece playing for Southland have just increased, and SBHS coach Jason Dermody sends a message to national schools selectors that they need to be looking this way.
Propping production line keeps rolling on…
Southland Boys’ High School has a strong track record of firing out promising propping prospects from its first XV.
Think Clarke Dermody, Jamie Mackintosh, and Ethan de Groot.
The 2024 Southland Boys’ first XV now has a couple of more young propping talents in the mix and coach Jason Dermody just hopes others throughout New Zealand are taking notice.
Props Thomas Jennings and Presley McHugh have been two of Southland Boys’ best on the way to booking a spot in the South Island schools final against Nelson College.
Dermody is adamant they should be in line for higher honours.
“Honestly if they don’t make top teams in New Zealand this year, we’ve got problems and something has gone wrong in the selection process,” Dermody said.
“All through the season they have been the best two players on the field, and you add Mika [Miliaina] to that as well.
“If they don’t go higher honours this year, then far out, New Zealand rugby is in the wrong place.”
New Zealand Secondary School rugby selection does have a bit of a history of being a lottery.
“They have individual selectors who will be watching video, but of course, they will be comparing [Jennings and McHugh] to the big boys up north, the big ball runners.
“But these guys’ core roles are hitting rucks and scrummaging, that’s what you pick teams on.
“Defensively, you watch Presley and Thomas [on Saturday], some of the hits going in were huge.”
Will we get to see Sevu Reece in a Stags jersey?…
Stags coach Matt Saunders has declared it “zero chance” that All Blacks wing Sevu Reece will line up for the Stags at Rugby Park in Invercargill on Saturday night.
Although that’s not to say it won’t happen later in the season, depending on what unfolds within the All Blacks.
Reece started the season as a first-choice winger in the All Blacks setup but was dropped from the 23 for the test against Argentina in Auckland on Saturday night.
Of course, that has piqued the interest of Stags fans who are keen to see him released to play for Southland, who Reece signed with during the offseason.
However, with the All Blacks squad scheduled to fly out to South Africa on Friday Saunders is certain Reece’s Stags debut won’t happen this weekend.
“There will be zero chance, but who knows, when they get back from Africa he might be looking for a run.
“But we are not banking on that happening. If it ever does happen, we would make the most of it.”
Thursday’s lineout that went wrong…
Stags coach Matt Saunders says Blair Ryall won’t feature for the Stags for at least the next month but will potentially be sidelined for longer because of injury.
The 2023 Stags Player of the Year had been named to start in the No 6 jersey for Southland’s Ranfurly Shield challenge against Hawke’s Bay on Saturday.
However, in Southland’s final training on Thursday, before departing for Napier, Ryall landed on a teammate’s foot when coming down from taking a lineout and suffered ankle and knee damage.
It is the second week in a row Southland has lost a player in its final major training of the week with wing Michael Manson picking up a hamstring injury the week before.
“We might get [Blair Ryall] back, but we don’t know. You won’t be seeing him in the next month I wouldn’t think…. Poor bugger.”
Ryall’s loss was significant heading into Hawke’s Bay, although Saunders again said that could not be used as an excuse.
“We had Semisi [Tupou Taeiloa] come in. It’s a different type of player but we’ve got no excuses with that.”
Looseforwards was an area of strength, depth-wise for the Stags, heading into the campaign. Although two weeks in, and that is already being tested.
Along with Ryall’s injury, flankers Leroy Ferguson and Hayden Michaels have both missed the first two rounds.
Ferguson is expected to miss one more week, and Michaels potentially two more, before they come back into the mix.
“We are getting close to getting some reinforcements which will be bloody good. They will both be short of a gallop, but they are both keen as mustard.”
With lock Woody Kirkwood already ruled out for the season through a knee injury the Stags had drafted in former Australian U20s lock Daniel Maiava, who was this year part of the Rebels Super Rugby squad.
He arrived in Invercargill last Sunday and with Ryall’s injury he found himself called into the 23 for the game against Hawke’s Bay.
The 21-year-old ended up slotting onto the blindside flank in the second half.
The one injury concern to come from Saturday was wing Viliami Fine who left the field in the second half with a knee injury.
“I don’t know on him yet, but it’s not ideal either. He was going well but it is just the way it is these days isn’t it, it is just so physical,” Saunders said.
Blast from the past…
Taranaki is heading to Invercargill to take on the Southland Stags at Rugby Park in round three of the 2024 Bunnings NPC. Let’s take a trip down memory lane and recall a Southland victory over Taranaki at Rugby Park to get us all in the mood.