Sport Horror night for Highlanders
The Highlanders are in a hole the size of the Taieri Gorge after their game plan was exposed in a shock 28-22 Super Rugby loss to the Rebels in Dunedin last night and, just as significantly, lost captain James Lentjes to a terrible leg injury.
Lentjes fell awkwardly when he was being cleaned out of a ruck in the 29th minute and was left writhing on the ground in agony, with his left ankle and foot bent horribly out of shape.
It was immediately clear that Lentjes had suffered a serious break and he received treatment for more than five minutes before being taken from the field on a medicab.
He looks set for a long spell on the sideline as the Highlanders prepare to head to South Africa and Argentina.
However, Lentjes’ injury is not the end of their woes after the Highlanders’ weaknesses were again on display, just as they had been against the Sharks in Dunedin three weeks ago.
After trailing 21-0 halfway through the opening period, the Highlanders threatened to stage a stunning comeback but their lineout was close to a shambles for most of the game and their wide passing game continues to be picked off almost at will by opponents.
The Highlanders have invested heavily in the Mitch Hunt-Josh Ioane partnership at No 10 and No 12 but neither had good nights and Ioane, in particular, looked ill at ease with his new role.
Not for the first time this year, the Highlanders were guilty of a dreadful start, unable to win the kickoff or their first lineout – and when they did get their hands on ball, they coughed it up.
They were duly punished as Rebels No 12 Billy Meakes scored after 8 minutes following a straightforward move from a lineout.
Five minutes later Rebels hooker
Anaru Rangi picked up an easy fivepointer after a lineout drive and the Highlanders’ woes were compounded when No 10 Mitch Hunt dropped an easy pass soon after.
Hunt’s lack of cohesion with Ioane led to the next Rebels score, with the converted No 10 knocking on a tough pass only to see it picked up by Rebels wing Andrew Kellaway, who dashed 70 metres to score.
Yet, somehow the Highlanders managed to go into the break just 21-14 down after first Josh McKay scored and then Aaron Smith picked up a brilliant try after some outstanding offloads by replacement prop Ayden Johnstone and lock Jesse Parete.
The Highlanders had a try ruled out in the 47th minute when a pass from Smith to Marino Mikaele Tu’u was correctly ruled forward, but they then paid the price for their illfated determination to go wide at every opportunity.
Again, Kellaway was the beneficiary as he picked off a Smith pass and ran in from 60m. That pushed the score out to 28-14 and condemned the Highlanders to their third loss of the season.
Both Highlanders replacement Scott Gregory and wing Jona Nareki spent time in the bin for separate offences while challenging for the high ball, while lock Manaaki Selby-Rickit made a bright debut from the bench.
However, the Highlanders simply lacked the control to get back into the game and 28-22 was as close as they got.
As if to rub salt in the wound, the students who filled a good proportion of ‘‘the Zoo’’ at one end of the ground had been chanting the name of departed All Black Waisake Naholo since the start of the game last night.
The Highlanders are a team in need of some new heroes, and now, a new captain.