Highlanders spank Force to extend streak
Chalk up another win streaking Highlanders.
Cruising under the radar in the ultra-competitive New Zealand conference, their 55-6 win against the Force in Perth last night marked their eighth consecutive win. Not bad considering they started the season 1-3 and have battled more than their fair share of injuries.
Mention the Force and Highlanders fans immediately think ‘‘bogey team’’ due to the fact they’d only won four of the 10 previous matches between the teams.
But despite missing All Blacks Ben Smith and Liam Squire, and starting two more – Aaron Smith and Lima Sopoaga – on the bench, they were far too good for the 3-8 Force.
Playing for the first time since pinging his hamstring against the Blues in round three, Sopoaga was injected into the match in the 56th minute.
His first touch – a cross-field kick to wing Tevita Li – almost resulted for the in a try, while he otherwise soaked up playing a part in his team’s biggest ever (49 points) win in competition history.
Led by No 8 and captain Elliot Dixon, the Highlanders outscored the Force eight tries to none to finish their three-week road trip in style.
Prop Aki Seiuli, who was promoted to the starting line-up when Daniel Lienert-Brown was scratched, bagged his first career Super Rugby double.
The former Timaru Boys’ High School captain did his best Beauden Barrett impersonation to score his first, when he picked off a sloppy pass from midfielder Bill Meakes and scampered 10m to score.
It gave his side a comfortable 17-6 lead at the break, before he touched down again 10 minutes after play resumed with a strong carry from close-range.
Li, starting in place of the suspended Waisake Naholo, scored a try in a fine performance, while fellow wing Patrick Osborne scored a scintillating 65m try early in the second spell.
It only got uglier from there, as the Force put in a performance that will hardly encourage the decision makers to spare them from the impending Super Rugby cull.
Not even heavy rain could stop the Highlanders running rampant, as replacement Rob Thompson, flanker Dillon Hunt and midfielder Richard Buckman – via another Meakes intercept – added their name to the scoresheet.
The bonus-point win ensured New Zealand teams remain undefeated against their Australian foes this season, while also pulling the fourth-placed (NZ conference) Highlanders to within two competition points of the Chiefs (43) and Hurricanes (43).
It might pay to the diary.
The Highlanders, who play the Waratahs at home next weekend, and the unbeaten Crusaders (12-0), who face the Rebels in Melbourne next week, meet in Christchurch that afternoon.
There’s a good chance impressive winning streak have to end. circle June in an will