Highlanders put in the graft before taming Lions
That’s one way of flushing last weekend’s Durban stinker.
They had to work mighty hard for it, but the Highlanders knocked over the Lions 39-27 in Dunedin last night to put last weekend’s heavy defeat to the Sharks behind them.
Given the Crusaders and Hurricanes had already nabbed round 13 wins to continue the charge at the top of the New Zealand conference, the win was just what the Highlanders needed.
The fact they didn’t have ace halfback Aaron Smith, who sat the match out as per All Blacks requirements, didn’t matter as Kayne Hammington put in a good shift.
They were also helped by the fact the Lions started the match as if they’d spent the past week scoffing Fergburger and sipping on ales in Queenstown.
The end result, five tries to four, an 11th straight win at home, and a clean sweep for the four NZ teams (the Chiefs don’t play the Lions during the regular season) over the 2016 and 2017 losing finalists.
But, after watching the 19-3 lead they built after 35 minutes mostly vanish, the result didn’t even feel safe when midfielder Tei Walden crossed to make it 33-20 with 15 minutes to play.
Lions lock Marnus Schoeman made sure of that, when he powered his big frame over the line to set up a tense final six minutes.
However, moments after dragging his team to within a converted try of a win, Schoeman conceded a breakdown penalty.
First five-eighth Lima Sopoaga banged it over from out wide for a nine-point buffer and Highlanders fans could breath easy.
The Lions weren’t without chances in the final 10 minutes, but they’ll review the match and feel the need to gag when they spot the smorgasbord of blunders.
Hooker Robbie Coetzee had scored either side of the break – both via driving mauls – as he did his best Malcolm Marx impersonation, but their back play wasn’t up to scratch.
Highlanders head coach Aaron Mauger’s plan was to run the South Africans around Forsyth Barr Stadium with an up-tempo game, and that’s exactly what they did for the majority of the game.
Sopoaga crossed for the first of the home team’s three first half tries within five minutes, before hooker Liam Coltman barrelled over the line 10 minutes later for a 14-3 lead.
Co-captain Ben Smith thought he’d crossed to make it 21-3 after 25 minutes when he scooped up a ball which cannoned off lock Andries Ferreira’s head and slid over the chalk.
However, referee Angus Gardner asked TMO Glenn Newman to cast his eyes over a possible offside. The man upstairs deemed Ferreira did not play at the ball and disallowed the try.
But Waisake Naholo and Tei Walden crossed in the second half, the latter’s the pick of the bunch thanks to centre Rob Thompson, who collected his deft grubber kick and fed his midfield partner.
Highlanders 39 (Lima Sopoaga, Liam Coltman, Luke Whitelock, Waisake Naholo, Tei Walden tries; Sopoaga 4 con, 2 pen) Lions 27 (Harold Vorster, Robbie Coetzee 2, Marnus Schoeman tries; Elton Jantjies pen, 2 con). HT: 19-15.