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Highlanders set to lose another veteran midfielder as part of widespread personnel change

(Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

He may have been one of the most loyal servants to the Highlanders since first joining the franchise in 2016, but veteran midfielder Teihorangi Walden looks to have played his last game for the Dunedin club.

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The Taranaki captain will lead his side out against Otago on Sunday in search of retaining their newly-crowned Ranfurly Shield status, but he will also be playing for his future after he revealed he is out-of-contract for the 2021 Super Rugby season.

Speaking to Stuff earlier this week, the 27-year-old midfielder said he hadn’t been offered a new deal for the upcoming season, seemingly bringing an end to his five-season spell with the Highlanders.

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The Breakdown | Episode 35

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The Breakdown | Episode 35

The announcement comes after he played a limited role in the side’s Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign this year, losing his preferred No. 12 jersey to Sio Tomkinson.

In total, he was named on the bench just once in their campaign-opening victory against the Chiefs, and it appears that hasn’t been enough to keep him at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

He joins Canterbury outside back Josh McKay as players to have missed out on contract renewals for next season, although both players have plenty of experience and talent between them to vie for spots at other franchises across the country.

With 35 Highlanders appearances to his name, Walden – who started for the franchise in their famous 23-22 victory over the British and Irish Lions three years ago – leaves the club with a hole to plug in their squad roster.

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Through the signing of Crusaders utility back and Tongan international Fetuli Paea, the Highlanders look to have already gone some way to filling the void left by Walden and Rob Thompson, who posted on Instagram last month that his time with the club has ended, in the midfield.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CD92TqZp4jp/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The franchise have also locked in Otago captain Michael Collins, who flourished upon his move from fullback to centre midway through Super Rugby Aotearoa, for another year in a move that should help bolster their midfield stocks.

Thomas Umaga-Jensen, who was ruled out for the 2020 season with a shoulder injury, has also switched provincial allegiance from Wellington to Otago, which could indicate that he will also be back with the Highlanders next season as well.

The departures of Walden, Thompson and McKay, as well as the addition of Paea, is representative of the ongoing change of personnel at the Highlanders leading into 2021.

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One-test All Blacks flanker Dillon Hunt confirmed his exit to join up with the Blues in his hometown of Auckland on a two-year deal last month.

His place in the squad, though, has been taken by Crusaders openside Billy Harmon, who joins Paea in moving down from Christchurch after struggling for game time behind the likes of Tom Christie and Sione Havili.

The changes have also been apparent in the coaching ranks, with the franchise parting ways with head coach Aaron Mauger earlier this month following their fourth-placed finish in Super Rugby Aotearoa.

Assistant coach Tony Brown has been tipped for the top job, while fellow assistant Mark Hammett has also left the club, with the Highlanders indicating that they won’t be searching for a replacement due to the financial constraints brought on by COVID-19.

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R
RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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