Page 2 - Liam Squire News Today

The Highlanders will almost certainly be without the ABs contender against the Blues, but the severity of his latest ankle injury is still unknown.

Folau Fakatava picked up a knee injury against the Crusaders and scans confirmed the Highlanders worst fears. The Highlanders have been dealt a huge injury blow after scans revealed that star halfback Folau Fakatava has sustained a full tear of the ACL in his right knee, ruling him out of rugby for 9-12 months. “This is very tough on Folau,” Highlanders head coach Tony Brown said in a statement. Highlanders Highlanders assistant coach Clarke Dermody says six disciplined players must earn ...

1. CRUSADERS (3-0) PREVIOUS RANKING: 1 Replacing either Leicester Fainga’anuku or Sevu Reece on the wing will take some call, given the outstanding start the aforementioned duo have made to the season. Brett Phibbs/Photosport The Blues were far too good for the Highlanders in Auckland on Sunday. And what about All Blacks centre Braydon Ennor, who is set to return from a knee injury for either the Australian component of Super Rugby, or the third round of SRA? To think the reigning champio...

Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa 2021: Blues coach Leon MacDonald speaks out on frustrating refereeing as brutal review looms 14 Mar, 2021 04:30 PM 4 minutes to read Blues head coach Leon MacDonald. Photo / Photosport Liam Napier is a sports writer for NZMELiam.Napier@nzherald.co.nz Television match official Paul Williams is set for a brutal review this week after three poor decisions cast a controversial shadow over this weekends two Super Rugby Aotearoa derbies. Rieko Ioanes denied try – for an app...

SSC Open Ranking Tennis Number two ranked Methvan Wijemanne overcame a set defeat to beat Tharuk Marasinghe in a all-Royal final to win the Under-14 boys singles title of the SSC Open Ranking Tennis tournament in Colombo on Sunday. Wijemanne scored 2-6, 6-2, 10-4 in the final to beat the third seed. While Wieemanne beat number five seed Sandas Usgodaraachchi in the semis, Marasinghe eliminated top ranked player Lisal Goonetilleke in a Royal-Thomian clash. In the men’s doubles final Yasitha de...

McMillan, speaking ahead of his first match as a Super Rugby coach, was anticipating his counterpart Brown to make changes, though, and Fakatava’s elevation has been raised by the Highlanders coach in pre-season. Ioane’s promotion from the bench sees Mitchell Hunt move from first-five to fullback. “One thing we know about Browny, you might think something, but he’s likely to do something completely different,” McMillan said this week. “Our challenge is to expect the unexpected. I...

Highlanders Highlanders halfback Aaron Smith says plans are already in place for him to make it through to the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Highlanders fans still labouring under the misapprehension that Mitch Hunt was an Aaron Mauger/Crusaders old boys selection last year promptly need to reassess that view. New head coach Tony Brown also admires Hunt and his selection at No 15 against the Chiefs on Friday shows that Hunts communication and leadership abilities continue to be a valued currency withi...

Hunt starts at No 15 this week, with former Chief Solomon Alaimalo moved to the bench. Highlanders CEO Roger Clark told Stuff on Tuesday: “Aaron Smith is pretty determined to give him the leg up that [former All Blacks No 9] Jimmy Cowan gave him. “Weve got a great history here with our halfbacks. We had two All Blacks halfbacks and one passed that onto the other. “Hopefully, that will happen again with these two.” Up front, the Highlanders have largely stuck with the side that lost...

OPINION: While others in the Blues-Hurricanes game completely lost their heads, the Māori ABs No 10 was composure personified.

By StuffFeb 26th, 2021 FShareTTweetQSMSWWhatsAppBEmailGJTumblrLLinkedInFeb 26th, 2021 A standout performance by All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor has ensured the Crusaders have started the year just like they finished the last one – with a win against the Highlanders. In front of a crowd of about 15,000 at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Friday, Taylor produced 67 minutes of high quality that was the foundation of his sides 26-13 victory. With his head down, he was in the middle of a dominant...