‘Soft tries’ frustrate Highlanders Crusaders put Rebels to sword
New Zealand 19. Australia 0.
The streaking Highlanders’ 44-28 win against the Waratahs in Dunedin last night ensured New Zealand Super Rugby teams remained blemish free against the folk across the ditch.
That wasn’t the only streak the Highlanders kept going, as they rolled to a franchise record extending ninth win on the bounce.
Outside of the unbeaten Crusaders, the Highlanders solidified their tag as the hottest team in the competition.
However, their latest win, which at least temporarily propelled them into second place – equal on points with the Chiefs (45 points) – in the New Zealand conference, didn’t come as easy as the final score leads on.
They had to come from 14-13 down at halftime, a task made easier when Waratahs lock Dean Mumm was yellow carded for a reckless tackle on Elliot Dixon in the 45th minute.
The home side promptly fired up a rolling maul and hooker Liam Coltman crashed over for the goahead score.
Wing Tevita Li collected a rare Malakai Fekitoa chip kick and dotted down five minutes later and the rampant Highlanders never looked back. While the Waratahs still haven’t won in Dunedin since 2008, they did deny the Highlanders a bonus point, when Jake Gordon crossed for his team’s fourth try in the last couple of minutes.
Highlanders coach Tony Brown played down the late loss of the bonus point, and was more frustrated his team leaked four tries.
‘‘It [bonus point] is not really much of an issue for us, to be honest,’’ Brown said.
‘‘We can’t really chase down the Crusaders, so it is what it is.
‘‘I thought we executed really well at times and scored some pretty good tries. But really, defensively, we weren’t quite as good as we have been this season.
‘‘We just conceded some really soft tries, which is not normally Highlanders footy.’’
In his second game back from a lengthy hamstring injury, first fiveeighth Lima Sopoaga got another run when he was subbed on for the ever popular Marty Banks with 20 minutes left on the clock.
Sopoaga scored one of his team’s six tries and was involved in a couple more.
Ben Smith, who tied Anton Oliver’s franchise record for 127 appearances, was at his illusive best in his return from a threeweek lay-off with an ankle injury.
His rare ability to make players miss and drive through defenders with his powerful leg-drive is a sight to behold, and no doubt one which had All Blacks coach Steve Hansen smiling.
‘‘He ignites so much for us. He always plays like that. It’s great to see, you wouldn’t have thought he’d been out for a month,’’ Brown said.
Midfielder Richard Buckman, who was perhaps a tad fortunate to score the game’s opening try in the 15th minute, was also outstanding, particularly defensively.
His mistake-free game and ability to turn the ball over in the tackle was on show again, and his potential match-up with in-form Crusaders midfielder Ryan Crotty next weekend in Christchurch looms as a must-watch. Sam Whitelock and his Crusaders weren’t the slightest bit interested in showing the Rebels any mercy as they rolled them 41-19 last night.
The Crusaders’ bonus point victory in Melbourne, which stretched their winning run to 13 straight victories and inched them closer to locking-up a space at the head of Super Rugby’s New Zealand conference, was typically efficient and ruthless in the first half before the second half substitutions slowed their attack.
Although his side were dominant for long periods, All Black Israel Dagg, making his long awaited comeback from a knee injury on the right wing, was unable to be prominent before being replaced by George Bridge in the 60th minute.
Dagg, more rusty than robust, has had limited opportunities to promote himself to the national selectors ahead of the three-test series against the British and Irish Lions, and if he is to be picked it may have to be on reputation rather than form.
The biggest downer for the Kiwis was the loss of flanker Pete Samu, forced from the field in the first half with an ankle injury and he was later taken to hospital for an X-ray.
Given coach Scott Robertson had excused several All Blacks from duty, telling the likes of Owen Rebels Franks, Matt Todd, Scott Barrett and Ryan Crotty to remain at home to either rest injuries or simply step off the rugby wheel, maybe the Rebels thought they had a slim chance of sneaking in a few sly uppercuts on the chin of the unsuspecting rugby giant from the South Island.
No chance. The Rebels’ scrum was competitive but their tacklers couldn’t cope with the hectic pace; whether it be fullback David Havili launching counter-attacks from the deep, centre Seta Tamanivalu unwrapping one-handed passes from within his massive claw or captain Whitelock running down the flanks like a runaway locomotive, the Crusaders just had too many attacking options.
We all know this professional rugby gig is an unforgiving industry – the Rebels, given their club is at risk of being scrapped, more than anyone.
Maybe their perilous state would have been a reason for the visitors to go easy if they had been in charitable mood. Instead, in the first half especially, they smacked them in a number of facets with all the force of a sledgehammer flying down on a peanut.
Although the Rebels scored one of the most spectacular tries of the weekend, a beauty that started near their own goal line and involved No 8 Amanaki Mafi blasting downfield prior to unloading to Marika Koroibete, this was never an even contest.
The Rebels tried to stay in the game, but were mortally wounded in the first half when they trailed 24-0 inside the half-hour.