The Highlanders loose forwards did a sterling job filling in at lock — Frizell for the whole game and Renton for 45 minutes — against the Brumbies in Canberra on Sunday thanks to a second-row injury crisis.
But while the Highlanders’ No 1 lock will almost certainly miss this Saturday’s must-win home game against the Rebels, there are finally some other options.
Josh Dickson, having a rough year with both injury and brother Sam’s illness, failed a head injury assessment after copping a blow in Canberra.
"He’s going through the protocols," Highlanders assistant coach Richard Whiffin said yesterday.
"I think, timing-wise, it makes it tight to make the game. There are obviously boxes he has to tick through the week.
"It’s been obviously tough off the field for Josh this year. The rugby stuff has probably been frustrating because he’s played well but had a couple of knocks here and there, so he hasn’t been able to put a consistent run of games together.
"We just hope him and his family get through this tough period, and Josh can rip into it when he’s back fit."
Fabian Holland has embarked on his rehabilitation with a hamstring injury, but fellow locks Will Tucker and Max Hicks are both available again after missing the Brumbies game.
Pari Pari Parkinson would also be in contention after recovering from a virus, Whiffin said.
"It’s one of those tough things where you pick up a virus or infection or whatever, and you don’t train for a little bit.
"And for someone the size he is, you can lose body weight pretty quick. It’s about him eating some carbs and meat and trying to put some body weight back on."
Whiffin handles the attack portfolio for the Highlanders, and there have been some promising signs in that area in recent weeks.
They followed 28 points against the top-of-the-table Chiefs with 32, including some nice tries, against the second-placed Brumbies, and in the most recent game, they had eight clean breaks and 22 defenders beaten.
"We’ve been frustrated that we didn’t come away with more, because we’re actually putting teams under a lot of pressure.
"We’ve had to work hard for our tries, and really putting some phases together and trying to shake teams, and unfortunately we’ve let the opposition get some soft scores that have made the games tougher than they need to be.
"We’re certainly, from an attack point of view, seeing good outcomes."
Whiffin also liked what he saw from Highlanders first five Freddie Burns against the Brumbies.
He has seen plenty of his fellow Englishman over the years and knew what the seasoned professional could offer.
"He managed the middle third really well, and his kicking game was strong, but it was also his leadership throughout the week.
"He was the main voice around how and what we wanted to deliver, and I thought he drove the team and their belief in our game plan really well.
"It was a performance that we’ve been expecting."
Likewise, Whiffin revelled in the sight of star winger Jona Nareki making his first start in two years and looking sharp.
"He’s got X-factor and speed, and gives us a point of difference in the backline.
"It’s great to have him back fit and firing, and hopefully he can rip into the last few games of the season."
The Highlanders did not plan to look any further ahead than the Rebels game as they knew it simply had to be won, Whiffin said.
"We’re in finals footy already, really. You live or die there. The boys have to respond to that."
Whiffin has enjoyed his New Zealand experience immensely but will return to England after the season and is unsure what his future holds.
