The newcomers: Five likely key Southland Stags debutants
The Southland Stags will open its 2024 NPC campaign against Otago at Rugby Park in Invercargill on Saturday.
The Southland Stags will open their 2024 NPC campaign on Saturday with the annual Stag Day showdown against Otago at Rugby Park in Invercargill. Logan Savory takes a look at five Stags NPC debutants who could be key figures on Saturday.
Byron Smith (First five-eighth)
With Jake Strachan picking up an injury against Tasman on Friday Byron Smith has been locked into the all-important No 10 jersey against Otago on Saturday.
Smith is probably best regarded as an attacking first five-eighth who likes to take the line on and he has built up an impressive highlights reel.
The key for Smith will be to also front up in defence and with his game management.
Smith was born and bred in Australia and progressed through the Queensland under-16 and under-18 rugby ranks while attending Nudgee College in Brisbane.
When he departed school in 2021 he joined the Auckland academy system. He went on to play for the New Zealand U19 in 2022, helped the Blues win the U20 Super Rugby competition in 2023, and was also named the Blues development player of the year.
He opted to sign with Southland this year in search of NPC game time. Smith was part of the Galbraith Shield-winning Star team in Southland club rugby this year
Connor Collins (Halfback)
Connor McLeod was shaping as the frontline Stags halfback in 2024 and a key figure in the Stags setup.
However, in March McLeod suffered a season-ending knee injury playing for the Highlanders Bravehearts development team.
It prompted the Stags to look at the halfback stocks and another Connor - Connor Collins - has now joined the Stags for the 2024 NPC.
Collins will start at halfback against Otago on Saturday.
The 26-year-old has previously played 37 games at NPC level for Canterbury and Wellington and linked up with the Eastern-Northern Barbarians for the back end of the Southland club season this year.
He has impressed to date during his time in Southland with the hope that flows into the NPC campaign.
Yet another debutant Stags halfback looms on Saturday with Lachie Albert named on the bench.
Sean Withy (Flanker)
Sean Withy was one of Southland rugby’s more significant signings for some time when he put pen to paper during the offseason.
It is a local lad choosing to return to his provincial roots, and that is an important message.
On top of that, Southland has landed a quality Super Rugby player who is on the up after a strong campaign with the Highlanders.
The 23-year-old flanker not surprisingly has been whisked straight into the captaincy role with the Stags. He has plenty of leadership experience previously captaining the Southland Boys’ High School first XV and last year captained the Otago NPC team.
In a somewhat unique situation, Withy will make his Stags NPC debut against his former team Otago on Saturday at Rugby Park.
Expect some banter from his former team mates on Saturday.
Mitchell Dunshea (Lock)
Mitchell Dunshea is another of the Southland Stags major offseason signings. The 28-year-old previously played 55 games for Canterbury and a further 38 for the Crusaders.
That was before the 2015 New Zealand U20 player this year joined the Highlanders and then opted to join Southland for the NPC.
Dunshea will bring a no-nonsense hard-working approach to the Stags pack.
He is likely to start alongside Josh Bekhuis in the second row against Otago on Saturday in what will probably be the most experienced locking combination in the competition.
Jason Robertson (First five-eighth)
Jason Robertson is another of the four new first five-eighth options named in the 2024 Stags NPC squad.
With the season-ending injury to Dan Hollinshead the Stags searched for another experienced first five-eighth and they came up with Robertson.
The 29-year-old has previously played NPC rugby for Waikato, Bay of Plenty, and Counties Manukau before in 2021 heading to play in France.
In the lead up to the 2024 NPC season Robertson has been playing for Old Glory DC in the United States.
With Jake Strachan suffering an injury and unlikely to be available against Otago Robertson will probably come off the bench on Saturday at first five-eighth.
Robertson will have a key role in an attempting to close out the game - something the Stags haven’t been particularly strong at in recent seasons.
That's a tough Forward pack. Otago will have the edge in the backs