Waisake Naholo

Highlanders confirm 'gaps to fill' in roster as Waisake Naholo returns to NZ

Naholo played only a handful of games during a two-year spell in the UK as he battled a persistent knee injury.

However, he is a chance of playing club rugby in Dunedin this weekend and when asked about Naholo, Highlanders chief executive Roger Clark told Stuff on Monday that they “still have gaps to fill for 2022”.

The Highlanders would have to be convinced that Naholo’s knee could stand up to the rigours of Super Rugby, particularly after Liam Squire and Nehe Milner-Skudder both struggled for game time this year.

Motu Matu'u and Waisake Naholo among London Irish departures

Matu'u, 34, joined from Gloucester in the summer of 2018 and played 30 times for the club, helping Irish return to to the Premiership in 2019.

Naholo, 30, played four times in the 2019-20 but missed all of the current season with a serious knee injury.

Tom Homer and Theo Brophy-Clews have already announced their retirement.

Harry Elrington, Nic Groom, Charlton Kerr, Andrei Mahu and Vladimir Podrezov are also leaving.

Waisake Naholo earns huge praise after secret comeback

  The 29-year-old wonder wing, a World Cup winner in 2015, hadn’t played since February 2020 as he battled a knee injury that eventually required surgery.

Having made a sensational debut for unfashionable London Irish in late 2019, there were genuine fears the injury might have ended a stellar career for the former Highlander who played 26 tests for New Zealand, scoring 16 tries.

Naholo returns with Havili set for test debut

Naholo has been named on the right wing for Sunday morning's test against Argentina in Buenos Aires replacing Nehe Milner-Skudder.

He hasn't played a rugby championship this year.

The Crusaders David Havili is set to make his test debut having been named in the reserves with Damian McKenzie again named at fullback.

Anton Lienert-Brown will start at centre with Ngani Laumape named in the reserves as back cover.

Naholo sticking with Highlanders

Naholo had been weighing up a move to the Chiefs for 2018, however in a social media video posted after the Highlanders' captain's run in Dunedin, he confirmed his intention to stay in the south for one more year.

RNZI reports the 26-year-old will start on the right wing for the Highlanders in today's quarter-final against the Crusaders.

Naholo's decision is welcome news for the Highlanders, following the confirmation that mid-fielder Malakai Fekitoa will leave at the end of the season to take up a contract in France with Toulon.

     

Ioane and Naholo dropped for Lions decider

Speedsters Rieko Ioane and Waisake Naholo are out, and Israel Dagg has been shifted from fullback to the right wing.

They'll meet an unchanged Lions starting line-up and bench - with captain Sam Warburton again leading the 23 who won the second test - as coach Warren Gatland sticks to his winning formula.

 It's the first time since 1992 that the Lions have kept the same starting 23 for consecutive tests.

Jordie Barrett is thrown into a pressure-cooker role at fullback in what will be the 20-year old's first Test start.

Naholo and Lienert-Brown in for All Blacks as injuries force Hansen's hand

Hansen's hand has been forced by injuries sustained by full-back Ben Smith and centre Ryan Crotty in their 30-15 win in the first Test in Auckland last Saturday.

Smith failed a head-injury assessment while Crotty suffered a hamstring strain.

As a result Israel Dagg moves from wing to full-back with Naholo, a try scorer in Highlanders' 23-22 victory over the Lions, taking his spot out wide. Lienert-Brown comes in for Crotty at outside centre.

Naholo makes test statement

The Fijian-born wing didn't just put up his hand for the No 14 jersey during the Highlanders' thrilling 23-22 win against the Lions in Dunedin on Tuesday night, he practically got on the blower to All Blacks coach Steve Hansen and demanded it. 

"Hopefully I did," Naholo said when asked if he thought he made a statement ahead of the first test in Auckland on Saturday week.

All Blacks winger Waisake Naholo set to return for Highlanders against Sunwolves

The dynamic 12-test All Blacks winger, along with first-five-eighth Lima Sopoaga, were both injured against the Blues at Eden Park in Super Rugby round three on March 11.

Fast forward more than a month and Naholo is back in training after recovering from his hamstring injury and is in contention to be named later this week to take the field for the Highlanders after playing 40 minutes of club rugby in Taranaki for Spotswood United.

Sopoaga is still doing his recovery and performance programme and is likely to be considered for selection in two weeks. 

Waisake Naholo makes remarkable comeback

Barely six weeks after Waisake Naholo limped off with a broken leg on test debut, the Taranaki and Highlanders wing bolted into the All Blacks' World Cup squad of 31, named on Sunday.

The 24-year-old was the big talking point of the announcement at the Beehive in Wellington as he filed out in his suit and tie with the team-mates tasked with defending the Cup in England, starting next month. He was one of four outside backs named, joining Ben Smith, Julian Savea and Nehe Milner-Skudder, the latter forcing his way in with two impressive tests against Australia.