Highlanders’ ‘future bright’
RUGBY: For once the Highlanders couldn’t go that extra mile, though Jamie Joseph couldn’t be prouder as his coaching career in Dunedin reaches the end of the road.
Joseph watched virtually powerless in Ellis Park as Johannesburg’s born-again Super Rugby franchise ended the Highlanders’ quest to defend their title with an emphatic semifinal victory on Sunday morning.
For a second successive sudden death encounter the Lions racked up more than 40 points against Kiwi opposition - and like Todd Blackadder seven days earlier, Joseph could not quibble with the outcome as he follows the Crusaders’ coach to a new challenge abroad.
The high point of his last coaching assignment at altitude for the foreseeable future came in the dying stages of a 42-30 defeat, with converted consolation tries to Waisake Naholo and Joe Wheeler as his exhausted personnel at least refused to lay down.
‘‘That’s the character of the team,’’ he said, pleased with the collective spirit that has developed since he took over a financiallystrapped organisation’s underperforming team in 2011.
Joseph, a hard-nosed blindside flanker, returned to the province where he his own rugby career matured after the Highlanders languished third from bottom in 2010 - the Lions were last - and gradually engineered a rebuild that Johan Ackermann is now on the verge of emulating on the highveld.
Originally Joseph coached the way he played down south but eventually mellowed to extract the best from his squad, a group that has seen his acquisitions including Aaron Smith, Lima Sopoaga, Malakai Fekitoa, Naholo, Elliot Dixon and Liam Squire, mature into international class players.
Those All Blacks and a host of industrious journeymen content to be along for the ride could not quite overcome the demands of their latest excursion, though Joseph refused to cite the travel schedule as an excuse.
Home advantage is undoubtedly beneficial - as the Hurricanes should finally discover this weekend - but Joseph had no qualms about heading to Johannesburg after narrowly winning their quarterfinal in Canberra after finishing second in the New Zealand conference.
‘‘There was a moment there when we lost to the Reds and Sharks [by one point in April] and we were backs against the wall. We had to win some big games ….the Brumbies, Chiefs and Crusaders to get back into this competition.’’
The Brumbies almost ended the Highlanders’ title defence in the opening game of the finals series, only for their resilience and a solid scrum to prolong their season.
‘‘We were down and and out against the Brumbies but they found a way to get there. We were just beaten by a better [Lions] side,’’ he admitted, as his focus turned to a lower level of competition.
The 46-year-old will view Saturday’s final between the Hurricanes and Lions at Westpac Stadium as a detached observer. Games that morning will be his first priority when he returns to his adopted home.
‘‘I’ll go and watch some kids’ sport. I think in the last 45 days we’ve been away for 33 so I better go and catch up with my kids, enjoy some family time.’’
Joseph will also have an official debrief at Highlanders headquarters , relax and then relocate to Japan - another home away from home during his playing career - in September to guide the national team through the the 2019 World Cup.
‘‘It was a great learning opportunity for me,’’ said Joseph, reflecting on his six seasons at the Highlanders. ’’It hasn’t always been great so to be able to come through the other end and the leave the place in a reasonably good state [for successor Tony Brown] is something I’m proud of.’’