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Tony Brown has achieved what could be a major Super Rugby coup by luring Liam Squire back to Dunedin, and the All Blacks ‘dream’ is still alive and well in the hard hitting forward.
Brown has featured 29-year-old Squire in a 39-man team for Super Rugby Aotearoa in 2021, with running back Vilimoni Koroi included, but he will spend most of the year with the NZ Sevens team in their bid for gold. Olympic in Tokyo.
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Liam Squire last played for the Highlanders in 2019.
Also included are seasoned prop Josh Hohneck and lock Bryn Evans, 34 and 36 respectively, while Jermaine Ainsley, Solomon Alaimalo, Billy Harmon, Sam Gilbert, Japanese test star Kazuki Himeno and Fetuli Paea are all new to. a squad of Highlanders who found there was no place for Southland captain Tony Lamborn.
However, the big news is Squire’s return to New Zealand rugby on a two-year deal after he interrupted what was supposed to be a two-year stint in Japan.
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“I wasn’t planning to go back to New Zealand this early from Japan, but a knee injury sent me here for knee surgery,” Squire said.
“After Covid hit here, and they locked us up. During that time they advised me [also] make my hip after the lockdown.
“It was good to do that, but the downside was that it delayed my rehabilitation, so I couldn’t go back to Japan.
“After the hip surgery, I felt like I was staying a bit here in New Zealand. Staying here and playing Super Rugby is exciting. I feel renewed again. “
Hannah Peters / Getty Images
Solomon Alaimalo has made the change from Hamilton.
In mid-flight, the 196cm, 113kg Squire is one of the best ball carriers and one of New Zealand’s hardest hitters.
However, injuries severely stopped him during the 2018 and 2019 seasons and he was clearly frustrated that his body was not allowing him to achieve his own high standards.
But after returning to the Deep South, he spent time at Andrew Hore’s farm while preparing his body for the rigors of Super Rugby.
He is expected to approach full fitness when Super Rugby begins in late February next year and admitted that the appeal of the black jersey was still strong.
Phil Walter / Getty Images
Liam Squire, center, lines up alongside Damian Mckenzie and Codie Taylor against England at Twickenham in 2018.
“This year has been quite tough, but it has given me the opportunity to have those injuries resolved,” he said.
“I haven’t had the opportunity to have a proper preseason like this where I could focus on what I need to strengthen.
“I am heading in the right direction. I’m not 100 percent yet, but we’re definitely building, so come on Super Rugby, I’ll be making big strides.
“I have high standards for where I want to go to return, and that is very exciting for me.
“That All Blacks dream is definitely not over. It burns in the back of my mind. “
Brown has chosen to continue with Ash Dixon and Aaron Smith as his co-captains, as James Lentjes has his hands simply securing Harmon’s No. 7 jersey following his return from a long-term ankle injury.
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Tony Brown says Folau Fakatava will start putting pressure on Aaron Smith next year.
The return of Thomas Umaga-Jensen, whom Brown said had become a 113-kg midfield “beast”, will give the Highlanders midfield more strength.
Brown told Stuff that Umaga-Jensen would start preseason testing as the preferred 12th with Paea as his midfield partner.
Alaimalo will provide some size on the wider channels, and Brown said Alaimalo will have every opportunity to nail down his favorite No. 15 jersey.
Brown noted that Hawke’s Bay running back Folau Fakatava will play a much bigger role in the Highlanders’ campaign in 2021 after a brilliant 10 Miter Cup season.
“In 2021 it will have a real impact on this team,” Brown said.
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Midfielder great Thomas Umaga-Jensen returned to rugby for Otago in the Miter 10 Cup semi-final and is seen as a potential All Black by the Highlanders.
“I know we have Aaron Smith as our All Black and our starting No. 9, but I think with the way Folau is playing, he’s going to start putting a lot more pressure on Aaron Smith and have more playing time. “
Evans returned to New Zealand after a long stint abroad and Brown said he wanted the former All Black to “advise” the likes of Pari Pari Parkinson and Manaaki Selby-Rickit.
Parkinson missed the 10 Miter Cup season after ankle surgery and the large lock will not be available for the start of Super Rugby Aotearoa, and is believed to be more likely to return in April.
The Highlanders will kick off Super Rugby Aotearoa with a home game against the Crusaders on February 26.
Highlander Squad:
Accessories: Daniel Lienert-Brown, Jeff Thwaites, Ayden Johnstone, Ethan De Groot, Jermaine Ainsley, Siate Tokolahi, Josh Hohneck
Whores: Liam Coltman, Ash Dixon, Ricky Jackson
Locks: Pari Pari Parkinson, Josh Dickson, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Bryn Evans
Loose forwards: Shannon Frizell, Sione Misiloi, James Lentjes, Billy Harmon, Kazuki Himeno, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Teariki Ben- Nicholas, Liam Squire
Halfbacks: Aaron Smith, Kayne Hammington, Mariners
No 10 Josh Ioane, Mitchell Hunt
Midfielders: Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Patelesio Tomkinson, Michael Collins, Fetuli Paea, Scott Gregory
Outer backs: Jona Nareki, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Vilimoni Koroi, Solomon Alaimalo, Sam Gilbert, Connor Garden-Bachop, Ngatungane Punivai
