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Injury-ravaged Highlanders given boost as young All Blacks prospect begins road to recovery

(Photo by Peter Meecham/Getty Images)

The injury-ravaged Highlanders have received positive news that one of their most promising youngsters has begun his long road to recovery.

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Interim head coach Clarke Dermody revealed on Thursday that star halfback Folau Fakatava has returned to the franchise’s headquarters after successful surgery on the ACL that he tore during his side’s shock 33-12 win over the Crusaders in April.

The injury is expected to keep the 21-year-old, tipped by many to become a leading All Black in the future, sidelined until between February and April, but the news that Fakatava is back in training will be warmly welcomed.

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The Highlanders have endured a torrid run of injuries this year. Heading into this Saturday’s Super Rugby Trans-Tasman clash against the Waratahs at Forsyth Barr Stadium, no fewer than 12 players have been ruled unavailable due to various injuries.

Among that list includes current and former All Blacks loose forwards Shannon Frizell, who is out for up to six weeks with a foot injury, and Liam Squire, who has been out of action since March because of a knee problem.

Three-test Wallabies prop Jermaine Ainsley and two-test Tongan midfielder Fetuli Paea, both of whom were star recruits for the Highlanders this year, also had their seasons ended before they began thanks to high ankle sprains sustained during pre-season.

Elsewhere, breakthrough youngsters Connor Garden-Bachop (hand), Marino Mikaele-Tu’u (leg), Thomas Umaga-Jensen (wrist) and Freedom Vahaakolo (foot) all had their seasons cut short at different stages throughout the campaign.

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Even injury replacement players, such as Caleb Makene (leg), Josh Timu (ankle) and Saula Mau (knee), have become unavailable because of injuries.

That’s still not taking into account the various other setbacks the likes of Josh Ioane, Solomon Alaimalo, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Ayden Johnstone, Pari Pari Parkinson, Patelesio Tomkinson, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Sam Gilbert, Ngatungane Punivai, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Teariki Ben-Nicholas and Sione Misiloi have gone through in 2021.

As a result, the Highlanders have been left stretched for playing personnel at certain points of a year that head coach Tony Brown, who is currently on leave with Japan, heralded as “exciting” four months ago due to the depth he had within his roster.

Those stocks have taken a heavy hit since then, but the early stages of Fakatava’s return is a step in the right direction as the Highlanders prepare to end this season and begin planning for the new-look competition in 2022.

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“He’s back on track now,” Dermody told reporters ahead of this weekend’s clash against the winless New South Welshmen.

 

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“I’m not sure of his return, it normally takes a long time [to come back] from those injuries, but I think everything went well, by the sounds of things, and he’s now back in the building training.

“The cheeky smile is back, so he’s getting through his rehab well.”

Getting Fakatava, the Tongan-born starlet who was enjoying a breakout season and was considered a genuine chance at All Blacks selection before injury struck, fit and firing for next year’s edition of Super Rugby will be crucial for the Highlanders.

His dynamic with co-captain Aaron Smith either as a starter or as a substitute gave the Highlanders a point of difference few others sides in New Zealand could match.

Fakatava’s presence in the match day squad also relieved Smith of plenty of pressure from the No 9 jersey as the seasoned veteran had frequently been called upon to play large chunks of matches on a week-to-week basis in recent seasons.

Before his future successor’s injury, Smith enjoyed a more balanced playing schedule as Fakatava was entrusted to play a prominent role in each match.

However, since that win over the Crusaders, Smith has featured as heavily for the Highlanders as he had in years gone by, something of which he said in March was “not fathomable” and made him “a broken man” by the end of last season.

Smith added that if he is to attend his third World Cup as a 34-year-old in 2023, he needs reduced playing minutes on a regular basis, which is why it is imperative for the Highlanders – and All Blacks – for Fakatava to return to the fray as soon as possible.

In order for that to happen, Dermody has ensured the Highlanders will offer their star youngster as much support as necessary during his recovery.

“Our medical team is obviously first-rate, so they get a lot of one-on-one time [with Fakatava and other injured players], making sure that they’re really planned and organised around their rehab, and I guess not trying to rush those things,” Dermody said.

 

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“I understand it’s going to take a long time [for Fakatava to recover], and you will have your tough days in there as well. It’s part of rugby. I’d say they get looked after really, really well through the weeks.”

Smith’s prolonged playing time since Fakatava’s absence has forced him onto the sidelines this weekend as he’s been rested from the side that will take on the Waratahs.

In his place has come third-string halfback Kayne Hammington, who will celebrate his 50th appearance for the Highlanders since moving down from the Chiefs in 2017.

Filling his void on the bench is 20-year-old James Arscott, who is in line for his Highlanders debut and is one of many highly-touted halfbacks, such as ex-New Zealand Schools star Noah Hotham and New Zealand U20 representative Nathan Hastie, within coming through the ranks at the franchise.

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Bull Shark 5 hours ago
Rassie Erasmus' Boks selection policy is becoming bizarre

To be fair, the only thing that drives engagement on this site is over the top critiques of Southern Hemisphere teams.


Or articles about people on podcasts criticizing southern hemisphere teams.


Articles regarding the Northern Hemisphere tend to be more positive than critical. I guess to also rile up kiwis and Saffers who seem to be the majority of followers in the comments section. There seems to be a whole department dedicated to Ireland’s world ranking news.


Despite being dialled into the Northern edition - I know sweet fokall about what’s going on in France.


And even less than fokall about what’s cutting in Japan - which has a fast growing, increasingly premium League competition emerging.


And let’s not talk about the pacific. Do they even play rugby Down there.


Oh and the Americas. I’ve read more articles about a young, stargazing Welshman’s foray into NFL than I have anything related to either the north and south continents of the Americas.


I will give credit that the women’s game is getting decent airtime. But for the rest and the above; it’s just pathetic coming from a World Rugby website.


Just consider the innovation emerging in Japan with the pedigree of coaches over there.


There’s so much good we could be reading.


Instead it’s unimaginative “critical for the sake of feigning controversial”. Which is lazy, because in order to pull that off all you need to be really good at is:


1. Being a doos;

2. Having an opinion.


No prior experience needed.


Which is not journalism. That’s like all or most of us in the comments section. People like Finn (who I believe is a RP contributor).


Anyway. Hopefully it will get better. The game is growing and the interest in the game is growing. Maybe it will attract more qualified journalists over time.

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