Tony Brown has pulled off what could be a significant Super Rugby coup by luring Liam Squire back to Dunedin – and the All Blacks “dream” is still well and truly alive in the bruising loose forward.
Brown has unveiled Squire, 29, in a 39-man squad for Super Rugby Aotearoa in 2021, with utility back Vilimoni Koroi included but set to spend the majority of the year with the NZ Sevens team in their bid for Olympic gold in Tokyo.
Highly experienced prop Josh Hohneck and lock Bryn Evans, 34 and 36 respectively, have also been included, while Jermaine Ainsley, Solomon Alaimalo, Billy Harmon, Sam Gilbert, Japanese test star Kazuki Himeno and Fetuli Paea are all new to a Highlanders squad that found no room for Southland captain Tony Lamborn.
However, the big news is Squire’s return to New Zealand rugby on a two-year deal after he cut short what was supposed to be a two-year stint in Japan.
“I wasn’t planning to come back to New Zealand so early from Japan but a knee injury sent me back here for knee surgery,” Squire said.
“After that Covid hit here, and we were locked down. During that time I was advised to [also] get my hip done after lockdown.
“It was good to get that done but the downside was that it pushed my rehab back, so I couldn’t go back to Japan.
“After getting that hip surgery I felt like I had a bit left here in NZ. Staying here and playing Super Rugby is exciting. I feel refreshed again.”
In full flight, the 196cm, 113kg Squire is one of best ball carriers and hardest hitters in New Zealand.
However, he was badly held back by injuries during the 2018 and 2019 seasons and was clearly frustrated that his body wouldn’t let him reach his own high standards.
But after returning to the Deep South, he has spent time on Andrew Hore’s farm as he builds up his body for the rigours of Super Rugby.
He is expected to be approaching full fitness when Super Rugby kicks off in late February next year and admitted that the lure of the black jersey was still strong.
“This year’s been quite tough but it’s given me a chance to get those injuries taken care of,” he said.
“I haven’t had the chance to have a proper preseason like this where I could focus on where I need to strengthen.
“I’m heading in the right direction. I’m not 100 per cent yet but we’re definitely building so come Super Rugby I’ll be hitting my strides.
“I’ve got high standards of where I want to go to coming back, and that’s quite exciting for me.
“That All Blacks dream is definitely not over. It does burn in the back of my mind.”
Brown has opted to continue with Ash Dixon and Aaron Smith as his co-captains as James Lentjes has his hands simply securing the No 7 jersey from Harmon following his return from a long-term ankle injury.
The return of Thomas Umaga-Jensen – who Brown said had turned himself into a 113kg midfield “beast” – will give the Highlanders midfield more punch.
Brown told Stuff that Umaga-Jensen would start the preseason trials as the preferred No 12 with Paea his midfield partner.
Alaimalo will provide some size in the wider channels, and Brown said Alaimalo would be given every opportunity to nail down his preferred No 15 jersey.
Brown signalled that Hawke’s Bay halfback Folau Fakatava will play a much greater role in the Highlanders’ campaign in 2021 after a brilliant Mitre 10 Cup season.
“In 2021 he’s going to have a real impact on this team,” Brown said
“I know we’ve got Aaron Smith as our All Black and our starting No 9, but I think with the way that Folau is playing he’s going to start putting a lot more pressure on Aaron Smith, and get a lot more game time.”
Evans has returned to New Zealand after a long spell overseas and Brown said he wanted the former All Black to “mentor” the likes of Pari Pari Parkinson and Manaaki Selby-Rickit.
Parkinson missed the Mitre 10 Cup season after ankle surgery and the big lock won’t be available for the start of Super Rugby Aotearoa, with an April return thought more likely.
The Highlanders will start Super Rugby Aotearoa with a home game against the Crusaders on February 26.
Highlanders squad:
Props: Daniel Lienert-Brown, Jeff Thwaites, Ayden Johnstone, Ethan De Groot, Jermaine Ainsley, Siate Tokolahi, Josh Hohneck
Hookers: 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, Folau Fakatava
No 10s Josh Ioane, Mitchell Hunt
Midfielders: Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Patelesio Tomkinson, Michael Collins, Fetuli Paea, Scott Gregory
Outside backs: Jona Nareki, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Vilimoni Koroi, Solomon Alaimalo, Sam Gilbert, Connor Garden-Bachop, Ngatungane Punivai
