‘I don’t think you can write him off’ – Highlanders rookie backed to be a shock inclusion in All Blacks squad
Highlanders back-row Lucas Casey and ex-All Blacks hooker James Parsons (inset).
James Parsons has identified Highlanders rookie Lucas Casey as a possible bolter in Dave Rennie’s All Blacks squad for the Nations Championship.
New Zealand are set to kick off their 2026 Test campaign with Nations Championship Tests against France, Italy and Ireland on home soil in July.
Rennie is currently in charge of Japan Rugby League One outfit Kobelco Kobe Steelers until the end of June.
The 62-year-old was in New Zealand last week while his club had a bye and he attended the Super Rugby Pacific derby between the Chiefs and Highlanders in Hamilton alongside two of his assistant coaches Jason Ryan and Mike Blair.
Although the Chiefs cruised to a comfortable 42-12 victory, Casey, who made his debut for the Highlanders earlier this year, came to the fore with an outstanding all-round performance and despite finishing on the losing side, he walked off with the official Player of the Match award after the game.
What made his performance even better was the fact that he started the game on the openside flank before moving to number eight early in the first half after Nikora Broughton had to leave the field due to injury.
The 23-year-old’s excellent individual display was also recognised on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod where ex-Crusaders scrum-half Bryn Hall awarded him the Player of the Week award for Round 14 of Super Rugby Pacific – a rare achievement for an individual who featured in a side who suffered such a comprehensive defeat.
Outstanding efforts recognised
“I’ve actually gone, for my player of the week, I’ve gone (with) Lucas Casey,” he said. “Now, I know he was in a losing performance, but to be honest, I could have picked Ereatara Enari (Hurricanes), I could have picked Xavier Roe (Chiefs) because of how the half-backs are playing at the moment.
“I just think with what Lucas Casey has played, we talked around Leicester (Fainga’anuku) and his ability that he’s played through this year when he’s moved to seven. Anton Segner (too).
“But the numbers that Lucas Casey had on the weekend, like 22 ball carries, 122 metres, nine tackle breaks.
“Next best was Jimmy (Timoci) Tavatavanawai who’s probably very high on that rate when it comes to the Highlanders. Eight passes in, 16 tackles at 100% with one turnover.
“If you’re talking about big stats and the way that he played, I just thought for him this week, it’s probably the best game that he’s played at Super Rugby level.
“So, Lucas Casey for the Highlanders was my player of the week.”
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Former New Zealand and Blues hooker Parsons agreed with Hall and believes Casey’s excellent showing caught Rennie’s attention.
“Lucas Casey was the best player. Very much so. The Chiefs are so combative. They pride themselves on denting you and putting you back,” he said.
“That was a performance. That was a landslide, man of the match from a losing team, best player of the weekend, landslide. Right in front of the All Black coach.
‘Great ball carrier’
“If there was ever a time (to do that). He’d fit nicely at eight (for the All Blacks). He’s a big boy, great ball carrier.
“I think that will put him on the list.
“That’s the best game he’s had in Super Rugby. He’s done it for Otago at NPC level. He’s now doing it at Super. There’s something about him.
“Bring Shannon Frizell back (for the Highlanders) with Casey at eight (and) I’m a big fan of (Veveni) Lasaqa at seven.
“Oh, that’s a good trio. It’s a good young trio with a touch of experience.”
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New Zealand are blessed with a plethora of brilliant loose forwards with the likes of Ardie Savea, Luke Jacobson, Du’Plessis Kirifi and Peter Lakai already established in the All Blacks set-up.
Casey’s cause is not aided by the Highlanders languishing in eighth position in the Super Rugby Pacific standings and effectively out of the running for a play-off spot with just one match left to play but Parsons believes if he can replicate his Chiefs performance against the Hurricanes in Wellington this weekend, he could be a shock inclusion in the All Blacks squad.
“Not being able to play finals is probably the one thing that (could count against him) and (something) they’d like to see,” he added.
“But I don’t think you can write him off.
“If you look at what the coach was looking for, you put it back to, if he can do it again in another derby, he’ll be pushing his way up those ranks.”