All Blacks star captains Highlanders after duo dropped for ‘unacceptable standards’

The Highlanders have dropped captain Billy Harmon to the bench for their next Super Rugby Pacific game after he broke team protocol.

Harmon was late for a team meeting and as a result misses out on featuring in the starting line-up for their encounter with the Waratahs in Sydney on Friday.

Fellow flanker Sean Withy also failed to be punctual and joins his skipper on the replacements bench.

Setting the standards

“A couple of players this week were late for a team meeting,” head coach Clarke Dermody said.

“Part of our standards this year is no matter who it is, it’s unacceptable and you lose your place in the team. So, someone else gets opportunity.

“Obviously, they want to compete but they understand the direction we want to take the team as well.

“It’s part of our standards we set out at the start of the year.

“It’s something that all the players know. In isolation, being late for a team meeting isn’t big, but the direction we want to take the team is that everything is really important.

“We want to make sure we turn up and show up to everything, and unfortunately there was a few boys that were a bit late.

“In isolation it’s probably not a big deal, but if you don’t stand for your standards then what do you stand for?”

All Blacks prop Ethan de Groot, who enjoyed an outstanding 2023, will captain the Highlanders and is joined in the front-row by Henry Bell and Jermaine Ainsley.

As for the back-row newbies, Nikora Broughton and Tom Sanders replace Harmon and Withy respectively.

Finally, in the engine room, Fabian Holland comes in for the injured Pari Pari Parkinson and combines with Max Hicks at lock.

The backline remains unchanged for the Super Rugby clash with Welshman Rhys Patchell retaining the fly-half jersey and looking to continue his fine form.

Highlanders team to face the Waratahs

Highlanders: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 13 Tanielu Tele’a, 12 Sam Gilbert, 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Hugh Renton, 7 Nikora Broughton, 6 Tom Sanders, 5 Max Hicks, 4 Fabian Holland, 3 Jermaine Ainsley, 2 Henry Bell, 1 Ethan de Groot (c)
Replacements: 16 Ricky Jackson, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Saula Ma’u, 19 Sean Withy, 20 Billy Harmon, 21 James Arscott, 22 Ajay Faleafaga, 23 Jonah Lowe

Date: Friday, March 8
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Kick-off: 19:35 local (08:35 GMT)
Referee: Damon Murphy (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Matt Kellahan (Australia), James Palmer (Australia)
TMO: James Leckie (Australia)

READ MORE: Akira Ioane starts at number eight for Blues in place of in-form fellow All Black