Highlanders hammer Rebels
No Ben Smith, no problem. The Highlanders overcame the late scratching of their captain to dismantle the dreadful Melbourne Rebels 51-12 in Dunedin on Friday night.
Smith tweaked a hamstring at training on Thursday and wasn’t risked, leaving him to sit on the sideline at Forsyth Barr Stadium and watch his team nab a bonus point against the winless Rebels.
Smith’s injury isn’t serious – he could return to play the Blues at home next Saturday night – and meant Matt Faddes started at fullback and Tei Walden shuffled into the match-day 23.
Up 20-0 with only 25 minutes on the clock against a lethargic and error riddled outfit from Melbourne, the game was as good as over. At times the visitors looked so disinterested you had to wonder if somebody had slipped them a bunch of sleeping tablets pre-match.
As if the Highlanders, who were captained by Luke Whitelock with Smith out, needed extra help.
They were already jacked up in a bid to mark halfback Aaron Smith’s 100th match with a win, and made their intentions clear with a couple of monster scrums in the early stages.
Such a rabble were the Rebels, the Otago Boys’ High School First XV probably could have trotted out at halftime and finished the job off.
But the Highlanders were far from perfect themselves. Sure, they crossed for six tries, but they also wasted plenty of other opportunities. Their clean out work at the breakdown left plenty to be desired, while protection for Smith was also lacking.
Wingers Patrick Osborne and Tevita Li were also both guilty of over-doing the chip and chase – a puzzling option given the Highlanders were crossing the advantage line with ease for most of the game.
Marty Banks, starting for the first time this season, had a fine game with the boot, nailing all eight of his shots at goal.
English and Reece Hodge ran in slick tries for the visitors in the second half, but ultimately they were no match for the Highlanders.
Australian Super Rugby sides have now won just three of the last 33 games against Kiwi teams.
With the bonus point win, the Highlanders have 14 points in the bag and temporarily surpassed the Blues in the New Zealand conference. The Blues have a chance to leap past them when they host the Force in Auckland on Saturday night.