Highlanders head coach Jamie Joseph offers no comment amidst intense All Blacks speculation
Wednesday, 28 January 2026
NZ Rugby has left it to candidates to declare if they are in or out.
Joe Schmidt and Vern Cotter are already out of the running.
Jamie Joseph and Dave Rennie are widely viewed as the top candidates.
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph won’t be offering any comment about the vacant All Blacks job as New Zealand Rugby’s hunt for a new coach puts potential candidates in an awkward spot.
Joseph normally addresses the media in the Highlanders’ midweek team naming session, but assistant coach Ben Smith filled that role on Wednesday as the southerners released details of their side to face the Crusaders in Friday’s first pre-season hit-out in Timaru.
A Highlanders spokesman confirmed to the The Post that Joseph wouldn’t be addressing the All Blacks speculation, with Joseph and Dave Rennie widely seen as the leading contenders - if they apply.
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NZ Rugby interim chief executive Steve Lancaster took a similar approach on Tuesday, saying it was up to the candidates themselves to rule themselves in or out.
Joe Schmidt is already known to be out of the running, despite no official confirmation from the Wallabies coach himself, while Vern Cotter revealed on Tuesday that he would coach the Reds in Super Rugby Pacific next year.
The Post understands that Rennie is still weighing up whether to go for the role - as of Tuesday at least - but Joseph’s reluctance to address the topic will fuel the belief that he will contest the position.
Tony Brown has already confirmed that he will stick with the Springboks until the 2027 Rugby World Cup, creating a potential hurdle for Joseph.
However, that could lead Joseph to Kenny Lynn, the former Highlanders attack coach who is now with Argentina - if Lynn wants to reunite with Joseph and can get out of a contract that is also thought to run to the Rugby World Cup.
NZ Rugby has been at pains to say it is first and foremost looking for a head coach, but in the real world conversations about assistants and coaching teams will already be taking place among the potential head coach candidates.
Meanwhile, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Hugh Renton, Folau Fakatava, Jona Nareki, Fabian Holland, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens and Ethan de Groot will all be missing for the Highlanders as they face the Crusaders in Timaru.
The absent players are either coming back from injury, managing niggles, or returning from All Blacks duty in the case of Holland and de Groot, although prop Saula Ma’u won’t return to full training until March.
Joseph has named different teams for the first half and the second half against the Crusaders, with No 8 Will Stodart captaining the first-half team and hooker Jack Taylor leading the second-half selection.
Cameron Millar will start at No 10 in the first half, while Reesjan Pasitoa will occupy the role in the second half following his switch from the Western Force via Northland in the NPC.
Veteran halfback Kayne Hammington, who has been playing in Japan, has also been training with the Highlanders following the season-ending ACL injury to rising star Dylan Pledger.
Hammington, 35, could yet force his way into the full squad with Southland halfback Nic Shearer not yet elevated into the full squad from his wider training squad contract.
Hammington could have played against the Crusaders but has picked up a calf strain.
Highlanders v Crusaders, Timaru, Friday 3.30pm
Highlanders (first half): Stanley Solomon, Caleb Tangitau, Tanielu Tele’a, Meihana Grindlay, Xavier Tito-Harris, Cameron Millar, Adam Lennox; Will Stodart (captain), Lucas Casey, Oliver Haig, Tomas Lavanini, Tai Cribb, Sefo Kautai, Soane Vikena, Josh Bartlett.
Highlanders (second half): Taine Robinson, Stanley Solomon, Jonah Lowe, Tayne Harvey, Josh Whaanga, Reesjan Pasitoa, Nic Shearer; Nikora Broughton, Veveni Lasaqa, Te Kamaka Howden, Tai Cribb, Josh Tengblad, Angus Ta’avao, Jack Taylor (capt), Rohan Wingham. Reserve: Henry Bell.