Highlanders told to chop penalties
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph has defended his scrum but agrees silly penalties have to be eliminated if the southern team are going to be a chance against the Waratahs on Saturday.
The Highlanders conceded two penalty tries from scrums against the Chiefs but managed to steal a 20-17 win courtesy of Marty Banks’ late penalty.
Joseph felt the Highlanders actually had parity with the Chiefs in an area of the game which has plagued Super Rugby this season, with those penalty tries coming when lock Joe Wheeler was in the bin.
‘‘We had a lot of confidence going into the game because we’d prepared really well,’’ Joseph said.
‘‘There was a lot of desire to get the result; obviously we made a lot of mistakes and weren’t very smart at times but every week there’s something to work on.
‘‘Everyone’s going on about the scrum but you have to remember we lost a lock and Shaun Treeby was playing blindside flanker.
‘‘What I’ve talked about with my team is you can’t afford to be stupid and give penalties away.
‘‘It could have cost us the match – we were up 14-3 and then 10 minutes later it was 17-14.’’
The Highlanders have called in Shane Christie for his first run of the season after recovering from a pre-season hamstring injury.
The Tasman flanker will be charged with marking Waratahs flanker Michael Hooper, a player Joseph rates highly.
‘‘[Shane] is proven at this level, he did bloody well last year and he gets a chance to play against, I think, one of the best openside flankers in the world. Hooper looks like a second five-eighth sometimes. It’s a big challenge for Shane but we are keen to give him a crack at that because he’s got good leadership and decisionmaking qualities – he just needs some footy.’’
Ironically, the Highlanders are second in the competition for turnovers won, with the Waratahs 14th.
Joseph said the confidence shown in Elliot Dixon’s ability to deputise at No 7 had been repaid in a solid display against the Chiefs.
John Hardie, who will play off the bench on Saturday night, has slipped down the pecking order after starting the first two games.
‘‘As I said to Hards, I didn’t feel he played his best rugby in the first two opportunities he got,’’ Joseph said.
‘‘He opened the door to give someone else a crack.’’
With Hardie, Dan Pryor and Gareth Evans all pushing for a starting place, the competition among the loose forwards was good for the team, Joseph said.