Shane Christie doesn’t mind being the underdog so he’s felt at home since moving down to the Highlanders.
While Tasman won the ITM Cup Championship this year with Shane as captain, they have been underdogs every prior season, and a promotion to the Premiership is likely to see Tasman don that tag again. And it appears the same at the Highlanders where the 28 year old will play his Super Rugby for the next two years, the same length of time he has remaining on his ITM Cup contract.
The Highlanders – who have lost a long list of past All Blacks – have been written off again after a disastrous campaign last year. But that suits Shane to a tee. “I don’t mind being an underdog, I’ve done it here with Tasman for a long time so I enjoy it,” he says. “There’s always pressure but at the end of the day we are focussed on getting the most out of our team.”
Shane is still recovering from a knee injury he picked up in the Maori All Blacks tour of North America late last year, which has ruled him out of the pre-season game against the Crusaders in Motueka on February 7. “Hopefully, if things go well I’ll get the last pre-season game. It would have been cool to play in front of the local crowd but it’s alright, my priority is for the season.”
Shane, who plays his club rugby for Nelson, was approached to join the Highlanders midway through the season last year. At the time he was contracted to the Crusaders, but with Richie McCaw back from his sabbatical, he felt the opportunities further south would be more beneficial. “[Highlanders coach] Jamie [Joseph] just approached me when we played the Highlanders last year. I had played in the Maoris with him in 2012. I was pretty keen to move though because I wasn’t going to get many opportunities with the Crusaders because I’d be the third string seven.”
In Dunedin, he will compete with incumbent openside flanker John Hardie for a starting spot. Tasman Makos lock Joe Wheeler is also in the Highlanders squad for the upcoming season, returning to the franchise after making his Otago debut last year.
Tickets for the Crusaders versus Highlanders game can be purchased by visiting www.makos.co.nz.
