Highlanders start poorly
SHARKS by name and sharks by nature.
The Sharks were exactly that last night — in for a swift and savage attack to take away the spoils.
The Highlanders started a new era with a loss last night, going down 4220 to the Sharks at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
The home team was far from disgraced. It had the lion’s share of the ball and won the territory battle.
A touch more accuracy, especially in the opening quarter, and it could have been more in the game.
But a blitzkrieg of points in the final 10 minutes of the first half sealed the victory for the South Africans.
The score went from 63 at the halfhour mark to 273 when the teams went into the sheds and it was a very steep climb back from there for the Highlanders.
The team from Durban quickly extended that gap to 303 early in the second half and that was always going to be too much to chase for the Highlanders side.
The home team managed to score three tries in the second half and looked lively at times but it was facing a climb up Mt Everest in a pair of Bata Bullets.
It overdid the chip kick against a rushing Sharks defence and probably needed to be more direct to get over the advantage line. There were a few too many dropped balls, but that is expected in the first game of the season.
The scrum though was excellent, picking up penalties, while the lineout was good enough.
The Sharks were the typical South African side — a big kicking first fiveeighth and a halfback who loved the box kick. Their back three were extremely dangerous and could not be stopped.
Best for the Highlanders were lock Josh Dickson, prop Siate Tokolahi, halfback Aaron Smith and winger Jona Nareki.
The Highlanders put the first points on the board with a penalty to Mitch Hunt as the home side’s scrum dominated early.
The Sharks then replied with a Curwin Bosch penalty from 48m out, which sailed between the posts.
The Highlanders looked to move the ball wide quickly to get outside the Sharks’ rushing defence but did not have too much success.
There were plenty of turnovers in the first quarter — hardly surprising this early in the season, as teams look to find their combinations.
Both teams looked to pilfer ball and won penalties for their efforts. It was good work but did not do a lot for the spectacle.
The Highlanders looked threatening at times but could not get enough continuity into their game.
Then after the Sharks had offered nothing in attack, the visiting side scored just past the 30minute mark.
A box kick was launched by the Sharks and from the contested catch it went to Sharks flanker James Venter.
He put on the speed and went 45m untouched to score. Bosch’s conversion went over and the Sharks had a handy lead.
It extended that advantage five minutes later when No 8 Sikumbuzo Notshe got his hands free and moved the ball to the outside and Springbok winger Makazole Mapimpi went over.
The big winger was in again a couple of minutes later, when Highlanders winger Tima Faiga’anuku turned the ball over.
It was moved wide and Mapimpi ran a great inside line to score and give his side a huge lead at halftime.