Ethan de Groot, the Highlanders’ only All Black, has been left out of the squad to travel to Canberra for Friday's match against the Brumbies.
De Groot, sinbinned after a team warning during last weekend’s defeat to the Reds in Dunedin, has not been in top form for the southerners, who have two wins in five matches and are sitting just outside the playoff positions in seventh.
He has been guilty of giving away penalties and the youthful Highlanders have struggled up front recently. They were dominated by the Reds pack during the 29-23 loss and were consistently beaten at the breakdown a week earlier in the defeat to the Hurricanes.
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph said de Groot had been given a week off to freshen up as part of the players’ All Blacks’ rest protocols which in general have not been as prevalent this season. 1News understands de Groot will not travel with the squad to Australia.
Asked whether de Groot had been dropped, Joseph said: “No… it’s not that easy to say. The first priority is he’s an All Black – they do need a rest… and that’s always been front of mind for us as a club. And the second thing is Daniel Lienert-Brown is coming in.
“When you’ve got a team with limited depth, it’s really important, from my perspective, anyway, that everyone gets game time.”
Joseph added of de Groot, a 26-year-old who was dropped by the All Blacks late last year for a Test following what was described by team management as an “indiscretion”: “He’s got a massive year ahead of him, being our only All Black. I’m mindful of that and mindful that we’ve only played five games of footy. He gets a rest this week and then hopefully he comes into consideration the following week.”
The Highlanders, who have wins over the Blues and Moana Pasifika but who have lost to the Waratahs, Hurricanes, and Reds, could have a tough time at GIO Stadium on Friday night.
The Brumbies, who typically have a tough pack, lost to the Waratahs at the weekend but beat the Blues at Eden Park in round four and are fifth on the Super Rugby Pacific table.
Joseph said it was important to focus on improvement and playing to potential rather than solely on results.
“The dynamics of our team – the average age is 22 and we’ve got one All Black... We got a good win against the Blues [in round two] and showed some good potential. It’s a team on the rise but not the finished product.”
He added: “Young men are going to make mistakes.”
The Highlanders will remain in Australia as they play the Force in Perth the following weekend.
“Touring always makes a team tighter, and it’s usually backs-to-the-wall stuff when you play in places like Canberra and Perth,” Joseph said.
“This team has shown a lot of resolve already this season, but we will probably need to dig even deeper over the next few weeks in Australia.”
Highlanders team to play Brumbies
At GIO Stadium on Friday, kick-off 7.35pm
1. Daniel Lienert-Brown, 2. Soane Vikena, 3. Saula Ma’u, 4. Fabian Holland, 5. Mitch Dunshea, 6. Te Kamaka (TK) Howden, 7. Veveni Lasaqa, 8. Sean Withy (VC), 9. Nathan Hastie, 10. Taine Robinson, 11. Jona Nareki, 12. Timoci Tavatavanawai (C), 13. Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 14. Caleb Tangitau, 15. Sam Gilbert. Reserves: 16. Henry Bell, 17. Josh Bartlett, 18. Sefo Kautai, 19. Will Stodart, 20. Michael Loft, 21. Adam Lennox, 22. Ajay Faleafaga, 23. Tanielu Tele’a.
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