Rugby: Steady stream of high-quality loose forwards

LOOSE FORWARDS

Taine Randell.
Taine Randell.
Before the Highlanders started, the Otago forward pack was always considered a mixed bag.

A very talented bunch of loose forwards with a gallant, but usually, outgunned tight five.

Well, over the past 20 years the Highlanders have kept up with a steady stream of quality loose forwards.

The tight five too has improved but the stars of the forward pack are still the loose men.

One of the best of those was Taine Randell.

Randell was earmarked for big things when at high school.

He continued to improve and all up played 77 games for the Highlanders.

He was a bit of a jack of all trades and could play well in all three positions.

But he played the majority of his matches at No 8 and was a very consistent player.

Adam Thomson.
Adam Thomson.
When Randell took the ball into contact, it was not often turned over.

He had a big motor and linked with players well.

Another Hawkes Bay product was flanker Josh Kronfeld.

Kronfeld first burst into the All Blacks in 1995 and kept up that high standard for the Highlanders for the next five years.

He was a player who could pilfer ball and had a tank which went all game.

Isitolo Maka had what seemed like a brief career with the Highlanders.

But when he was not carrying injuries and was match fit he was a human wrecking ball.

He was dynamic in 1998 when the Highlanders made an unlikely charge to the semifinals, but weight issues got the better of him.

When Maka left or was injured, Kelvin Middleton usually got a run.

The raw-boned man from Wakatipu never let anyone down.

He never missed a tackle and popped up in the most unusual places.

Josh Blackie was like his namesake, an openside flanker who worked hard for his team.

He did not have the rock stars around him like previous loose forwards but never threw in the towel.

Electric pace and an ability to almost bend his body in half helped Blackie's play.

Along with Blackie was the rugged Craig Newby.

Newby came from North Harbour but became a big part of the southern rugby scene.

He was tough and stood up to everyone.

He was a sevens player so he had speed and put his body on the line when it was needed.

Alando Soakai was another sevens player who turned into a top-rate Highlander.

Time looked to have passed Adam Thomson by.

But in 2008, Thomson exploded into Super rugby and by the season's end was in the All Blacks.

For the next five seasons, he was almost an everpresent for the Highlanders.

He was one of the best loose forwards in the entire competition in that time.

Thomson's game was suited to this competition as he was quick, could pop up anywhere and was a ball-runner.

His defence was also first-rate.

When he left in 2013, his absence was felt.

That same year Nasi Manu also cried off through injury and it was not surprising the Highlanders struggled.

His ability to get to the advantage line and hold the ball for others was a key for the title victory two years later.

How much he will be missed will be revealed in the next six months.

 

Contenders

Taine Randell: Multiskilled and solid defender.

Josh Kronfeld: Never stopped and a total nuisance for the other side.

Adam Thomson: Huge motor who was the team's best player for up to five seasons.

Nasi Manu: An unsung hero who would go deep into the well for his side.

 


Dream Team

The Otago Daily Times is running a competition to name a Highlanders dream team - the best side, 15 players and seven reserves - from all the players who have turned out for the franchise in 20 years.

• Entries close on February 23 and can be posted to Box 517, Dunedin or emailed to: sport@odt.co.nz 


 

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