Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

'We lost our identity': Tony Brown's subtle dig at sacked Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger

(Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)

New Highlanders coach Tony Brown has had a subtle dig at Aaron Mauger, saying the team lost their identity during his tenure.

ADVERTISEMENT

Mauger was dumped as head coach of the Highlanders in September after three years in charge following an internal review at the end of this year’s Super Rugby Aotearoa.

Brown, who served as attack coach under Mauger this year, says the Dunedin franchise needs to rediscover its “identity”, something he believes they’ve lost in the last few years.

Video Spacer

The “unbelievable ability” that makes Will Jordan so great | Aotearoa Rugby Pod | RugbyPass

Video Spacer

The “unbelievable ability” that makes Will Jordan so great | Aotearoa Rugby Pod | RugbyPass

“I just think it’s really important that we create an identity that’s [the] Highlanders,” Brown said.

“I think potentially we might have lost a little bit of that over the last few years.

“I want to take us back to that identity and make sure the players understand that, what the environment is about, play good footy and entertain the fans.”

The Highlanders haven’t managed to replicate the success under Jamie Joseph and Brown, when they took out the Super Rugby crown in 2015.

They’ve since also lost a host of experienced players like former All Blacks Ben Smith and Waisake Naholo.

ADVERTISEMENT

Brown and Mauger will go head-to-head this weekend when the Moana Pasfika side take on the M?ori All Blacks.

Meanwhile, the Highlanders revealed their Super Rugby squad for 2021 headlined by the return of Liam Squire who is back from a brief stint playing in Japan.

There are six new faces and two returning players in the team co-captained by Ash Dixon and Aaron Smith.

Highlanders’ 2021 Super Rugby squad

Props: Ayden Johnstone, Siate Tokolahi, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Jeff Thwaites, Ethan de Groot, Jermaine Ainsley, Josh Hohneck

Hookers: Ricky Jackson, Ash Dixon, Liam Coltman

ADVERTISEMENT

Locks: Pari Pari Parkinson, Josh Dickson, Maanaki Selby-Rickit, Bryn Evans

Loose forwards: Billy Harmon, James Lentjes, Shannon Frizell, Marino Mikaele Tu’u, Sione Misiloi, Teariki Ben-Nicholas, Liam Squire, Kazuki Himeno

Halfbacks: Aaron Smith, Kayne Hammington, Folau Fakatava

First-fives: Josh Ioane, Mitchell Hunt

Midfield: Fetuli Paea, Sio Tomkinson, Thomas Umaga Jensen, Ngane Punivai

Outside backs: Nehe Milner Skudder, Connor Garden Bachop, Scott Gregory, Jona Nareki, Solomon Alaimalo, Michael Collins, Sam Gilbert, Vilimoni Koroi

Listen to the latest episode of the Aoteaora Rugby Pod below:

ADVERTISEMENT

O2 Inside Line: This Rose | Episode 1

New Zealand v Ireland | Rugby World Cup 1995 | The Vaults

Behind the scenes with the NEW ZEALAND women's sevens team in Perth | HSBC SVNS Embedded | Episode 5

Argentina v Australia | HSBC SVNS Perth 2025 | Men's Final Match Highlights

New Zealand v Australia | HSBC SVNS Perth 2025 | Women's Final Match Highlights

The Dupont Ploy: How France went from underdogs to Olympic gods | The Report

Former rugby player is truly an NFL superstar | Walk the Talk | Jordan Mailata

Boks Office | Episode 33 | Dupont's Toulouse Too Good

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

R
RedWarrior 16 minutes ago
Many England fans echoing the same gripe following Six Nations loss

The English defense was excellent in the first half. This is considering Ireland's attack has improved significantly since the Autumn with former Leinster attack coach Goodman. Ireland were beaten by NZ in the Autumn, are behind SA and arguably behind France so de facto 4th in order (rankings take time to catch up) As Eddie Jones said Ireland are still in that elite group so England's domination in the first half is noteworthy.

I believe they have spent the time since the Autumn largely on defence. On broken play they were relying on Smiths instint along with some jiggery pokery. For Smiths early line break a Twindaloo blocked Baird which left the gap for smith. It looked like he did Aki, but Baird was a little late arriving and clever play by Tom Curry allowed the gap for Smith. Earls line break was Smith spotting Baird coming out and beating him with a beautiful pass to Earl.

We saw the rehearsed plays for a couple of Ireland's tries. The Aki try was just identifying that England tended to hide Smith on the wing creating a vulnerability which Ireland exploited with one of Akis great finishes.

Although Ireland were relaxing at the end the two English tries were good enough quality and we may see more of it next week (Scotland will also have taken note).

Although on the easier side of the draw Borthwick almost took England to a RWC final.

But in common with the top4 you need to have firepower to get those tries in big games. Can Borthwick manage that? I don't think so.

Next week even if England have a great first half again, you would be looking at France converting 3 of those Irish chances and pushing on after the break.

Can Borthwick develop a plan to beat France in the next few years. If the answer is no England need to find someone who can.

9 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Many England fans echoing the same gripe following Six Nations loss Many England fans are saying the same thing after loss to Ireland
Search