All Blacks halfback Aaron Smith will miss not only the pre-season game against Moana Pasifika in Queenstown tomorrow evening but also the first two rounds of Super Rugby Pacific, it was revealed yesterday.
It means Highlanders fans will have as few as six opportunities to see the peerless No 9 in person before he takes up a contract in Japan.
"Aaron is extending his break, so he’ll be back and ready for round three, unless we need him," Highlanders coach Clarke Dermody said yesterday.
"He had a massive year last year for us, minute-wise, and for the All Blacks on tour as well, so we’re making sure we’re in a position to get the best out of him for us coming into the season.
"He’s still contributing, He’s part of our leadership group. He’s a big part of our club.
"But he’s just enjoying an off-season. He keeps himself fit, and he will hit the ground running."
Smith will miss the season opener against the Blues at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday week — you can hear the groans of disappointment from the Zoo already — as well as the game against the Crusaders in Melbourne.
It places further pressure on rehabilitated-without-surgery livewire Folau Fakatava and rookie James Arscott to hold the fort while Smith is on leave.
Fakatava starts tomorrow night in a huge test after a spell out following his decision to skip surgery on an ACL injury.
"Folau won’t play full minutes but obviously it’s his first game back for a while," Dermody said.
"He’s progressed well through full-contact training and is looking forward to getting out there."
It is as close to a full-strength Highlanders team as most followers would be able to name.
Rhys Marshall starts at hooker with Andrew Makalio sidelined by illness, and Josh Timu and Thomas Umaga-Jensen form an all-Otago midfield combination.
Highlanders captain Billy Harmon and All Blacks blindside flanker Shannon Frizell rejoin Marino Mikaele-Tu’u in the loose forward trio that developed so nicely last season.
Mitch Hunt continues his comeback at first five but there might be more interest in English international Freddie Burns when he makes his Highlanders debut off the bench.
"Freddie’s hugely experienced and is coming off a season, so his game load is still pretty high," Dermody said.
"He’s trained for just over a week so he is still picking up our language, but you can see his experience shining through."
It has been a difficult week for Mikaele-Tu’u, one of several players in the squad with family in the eye of the cyclone in the Hawke’s Bay.
He was reluctant to say too much about the situation but said his parents were affected.
"They’re still there. People are getting evacuated and whatnot, so I’ve just been trying to touch base with them as soon as I can."
The strapping No8 is looking forward to clashing with Moana Pasifika tomorrow.
"We’re just trying to play good footy. We’ve got a full squad back, so hopefully we can put out a pretty good performance.
"It’s taken a while to get combinations right. But I think once we get time on our feet to run through what we need to, it will benefit us in the long run."
Mikaele-Tu’u is licking his lips at the prospect of getting more space from the back of the scrum now halfbacks are required to be further back.
"I think it’s going to suit a lot of No 8s," he said.
"It just frees up my game a lot more. It will depend where the 9 will stand but I think it will give us more options, and hopefully benefits us as a team."
It could be a big year for Mikaele-Tu’u, who played for the All Blacks XV in Ireland at the end of 2022 and could be in the frame for World Cup selection.
"I’m just going to continue playing the best footy I can for the Highlanders, and hopefully that means getting a few more wins."
Highlanders team
To play Moana Pasifika
Sam Gilbert, Jonah Lowe, Josh Timu, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Jona Nareki, Mitch Hunt, Folau Fakatava, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Billy Harmon (captain), Shannon Frizell, Josh Dickson, Pari Pari Parkinson, Jermaine Ainsley, Rhys Marshall, Ethan de Groot. Reserves: Leni Apisai, Ayden Johnstone, Saula Ma’u, Will Tucker, Nikora Broughton, James Arscott, Freddie Burns, Connor Garden-Bachop, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Jeff Thwaites, Sean Withy, Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, Scott Gregory, Jack Taylor.
