Because that’s what sport is about. Trans-Tasman, do your thing.
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Clarke Dermody has been promoted from assistant to head coach of the Highlanders because Tony Brown has left to work with the Japanese national team.
1 Clarke Dermody makes a rocky start to his tenure as Highlanders head coach. The departure of Tony Brown, who will assist Jamie Joseph in preparing Japan to play the British and Irish Lions in Edinburgh next month, meant Dermody was unexpectedly promoted to the top post last week. Within days of replacing Brown, who will return in 2022, Dermody was forced to deal with his first drama after All Blacks blindside flanker Shannon Frizell was alleged to have assaulted a female at a bar last weekend.
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Highlanders prop Ethan de Groot has found his ideal playing weight at 126kg, shedding 9kg since his provincial campaign with Southland.
Highlanders loosehead prop Ethan de Groot says the dominant Reds scrum powered by Taniela Tupou has been given more leeway by Australian whistleblowers than referees would allow in New Zealand, setting the scene for a fiery set-piece tussle on Friday. Tupou, aka the Tongan Thor, has been devouring Australian looseheads all season in the Super Rugby AU competition, and the Highlanders will get first crack at the Wallabies powerhouse in the first game of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competition in Dunedin.
Super Rugby: Highlanders have plan to deal to Reds prop Taniela Tupou stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Sonny Bill Williams emotional interview with Reds rugby star Taniela Tupou.
Sonny Bill Williams put a brotherly arm around Taniela Tupou’s shoulder as the Wallabies prop made an emotional tribute to his mother in Tonga after the Reds’ Super Rugby Australia grand final win on Saturday night. Tupou, who played a part in setting up the Reds’ match-winning post-final whistle try against the Brumbies, revealed he had not seen his family since 2019.
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Taniela Tupou of the Reds celebrates victory after the Super Rugby Australia final victory over the Brumbies. Williams, who was part of the