Highlanders send Stormers home winless 33 15
Liam Napier
New Zealand Rugby general manager Neil Sorensen has resigned.
After 17 years with NZR, Sorensen will finish on March 29.
“This has been something in the back of my mind for some time now, and I have finally decided that the time is right for me to look for something new,” Sorensen said.
“I am excited about what might be around the corner. I love building, developing and leading teams but for now, I’m looking forward to supporting my teammates over the next few weeks before enjoying Easter as a fan and not as a ‘fishhead’ as I have done for so long.
“I feel privileged to have been involved in so many different parts of the game — from test and tour operations, to leading during rugby’s transition through to the modern era of rugby. I have been able to travel overseas to support incredibly talented young people in the under-20s, Black Ferns, Maori All Blacks and sevens
“But many of the moments that stand out as being special are the times I’ve witnessed how rugby can be a powerful connector for communities — from Rippa rugby tournaments, to Heartland Championship finals to proudly marching in the Pride Parade.”
NZR chief executive Steve Tew said “Sos” would leave a big hole in rugby.
“Sos has been a very highly valued and adored member of the NZR family for a long time. He has been with NZR since 2001, and is one of our senior leaders who helped to refocus and rebuild NZR after the hosting rights were lost in 2002, including taking on the acting CEO role at times. He was pivotal in professionalising our rugby operations, including the 2005 Lions series, which helped set the scene for our successful bid to host the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
“The rugby team has thrived and excelled under his leadership and he has led four game-changing collective negotiations with his team.
“Long before respect and inclusion became a strategic priority for all of NZR, Sos was a pioneer in this area for our organisation.
“Sos is deeply passionate, caring and generous with his ideas and knowledge for the good of rugby. He has made an incredible contribution to our game from grassroots to professional, and has been a key driver in the growth of the women’s game.
“We wish Sos and his family, the very best for the future,” Tew said. In their opening two games of the Super Rugby season, the Highlanders have made one thing clear — they’re going to run and run and run.
When they hosted the Stormers at Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium last night, just over three minutes inside the opposition 22 was all they needed to run in five tries and claim a 33-15 bonus point win.
Looking to run at every opportunity, the Highlanders backline was superb. Tevita Nabura was impressive on the left wing in his Super Rugby debut, as was No 12 Teihorangi Walden, while right winger Waisake Naholo was arguably the best player on the pitch.
The Stormers, on the other hand, will likely do some self-analysis on their way back to South Africa, finishing their three-match road trip without a win.
The Cape Town-based side had the better of the territorial battle but were unable to make it count and struggled to penetrate the Highlanders defence.
The hosts showed their hand early, launching a fast, second-phase driven attack that saw second fiveeighth Walden set up loose forward Liam Squire with a lovely flick pass for the opening try of the match inside five minutes.
The Stormers hit back almost immediately through big forward Chris van Zyl, before No 10 Damian Willemse pounced on a loose ball from a failed Highlanders attack and ran the length of the pitch to put his side ahead against the run of play.
Despite the score, the Highlanders looked the more likely team to push on with the job. Their ball-inhand mindset was opening holes in the Stormers defence, and Naholo made the most of it.
The winger found space on the right side of the pitch and fended off three would-be tacklers before sending Aaron Smith across the line. Naholo was the next to score and, at halftime, the Highlanders held a slim 19-15 lead.
It was more of the same in the second period, with Luke Whitelock getting over the line while a number of other chances went begging.
Smith put the final touches on the match late in the piece, sealing a deserved bonus point win.
The Highlanders play the champion Crusaders in the Southern derby in Dunedin next Saturday night, while the Stormers fly home to host the Blues early next Sunday morning.
Highlanders 33 (Aaron Smith 2, Liam Squire, Waisake Naholo, Luke Whitelock tries; Lima Sopoaga 4 cons) Stormers 15 (Chris Van Zyl, Damian Willemse tries; SP Marais con, pen). Halftime: 19-15.