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Highlanders optimistic of potential return of All Blacks star following close Blues defeat

(Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)

Highlanders head coach Aaron Mauger is hopeful one-test All Blacks first-five Josh Ioane will return for the Dunedin club in time for next week’s southern derby against the Crusaders at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

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The star playmaker’s return from a niggling groin injury would be timely and well-received by the Highlanders, who fell short 27-24 against the Blues at Eden Park last night.

“Josh is on track,” Mauger said following the defeat. “He ran today [Saturday]. We got a good report that he was back up to 100 per cent running.

“We’ve just got to make sure with that groin we get through a bit of kicking early in the week, and we can make a decision on his availability.”

Filling in the No. 10 jersey in the absence of Ioane was Hunt, who was particularly impressive in Auckland on Saturday evening as he scored a try and kicked an additional nine points off the boot.

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Blues v Highlanders Press Conference

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Blues v Highlanders Press Conference

However, Hunt could be the missing piece to the puzzle at fullback should Ioane return to No. 10, with youngster Scott Gregory enduring a torrid night with ball in hand.

The 21-year-old had a kick charged down that led directly to one of Dalton Papalii’s two tries, while he also struggled under the high ball.

“It was a tough night for Scotty,” Mauger said of the All Blacks Sevens star. “I thought he did some things well but obviously didn’t quite execute some of the work under the high ball.”

As the fifth player deployed at fullback this year by the Highlanders – after Josh McKay, Michael Collins, Hunt and Vilimoni Koroi – now may be the time to inject some selection consistency in that position.

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Nehe Milner-Skudder’s anticipated debut against his former side, the Hurricanes, could be done from fullback, but a seemingly serious knee injury to Sam Gilbert may open a place for the ex-All Black on the right wing to keep Hunt at No. 15.

The 21-year-old Cantabrian left the field in the first half and was seen in crutches throughout the remainder of the game, which could open avenues for playing time for the likes of Josh McKay, Michael Collins, Ngane Punivai, Tima Fainga’anuku and Chris Kuridrani.

“It’s his knee, but I’m not exactly sure what he’s hurt there,” Mauger said of Gilbert’s injury. “He’s pretty sore. He limped in on crutches so medical will have a look and get a report on him in the next couple of days.”

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f
fl 51 minutes ago
The Fergus Burke test and rugby's free market

"So who were these 6 teams and circumstances of Marcus's loses?"


so in the 2023 six nations, England lost both games where Marcus started at 10, which was the games against Scotland and France. The scotland game was poor, but spirited, and the french game was maybe the worst math england have played in almost 30 years. In all 3 games where Marcus didn't start England were pretty good.


The next game he started after that was the loss against Wales in the RWC warmups, which is one of only three games Borthwick has lost against teams currently ranked lower than england.


The next game he's started have been the last 7, so that's two wins against Japan, three losses against NZ, a loss to SA, and a loss to Australia (again, one of borthwicks only losses to teams ranked lower than england).


"I think I understand were you're coming from, and you make a good observation that the 10 has a fair bit to do with how fast a side can play (though what you said was a 'Marcus neutral' statement)"


no, it wasn't a marcus neutral statement.


"Fin could be, but as you've said with Marcus, that would require a lot of change elsewhere in the team 2 years out of a WC"


how? what? why? Fin could slot in easily; its Marcus who requires the team to change around him.


"Marcus will get a 6N to prove himself so to speak"


yes, the 2022 six nations, which was a disaster, just as its been a disaster every other time he's been given the reigns.

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