Highlanders trio get front-row seat for latest Super team of the week
Blues coach Leon MacDonald came out with a wonderful piece of understatement after his side’s loss to the Highlanders in Dunedin on Saturday.
‘‘It’s good to have a good scrum but when you concede a pushover try . . .’’
In other words, for all the praise lavished on big Karl Tu’inukuafe and to a lesser extent Ofa Tuungafasi, there is a reason why Joe Moody and Owen Franks (if available) will be first-choice props for the All
Blacks. Moody and Franks have certainly suffered the odd bad scrum or two but their consistency sets them apart.
MacDonald also said the Blues had tried to generate a pushover try of their own before halftime but couldn’t budge Highlanders props Daniel Lienert-Brown or Tyrel Lomax and eventually coughed up an intercept.
That’s why the Highlanders duo are in this week’s Stuff team of the week, forming an all Highlanders front-row with turnover king Liam Coltman.
15. Ben Smith (Highlanders): A model of consistency and reliability at the back, always probing for gaps and cleaning up under pressure.
14. Wes Goosen (Hurricanes): Scored an excellent try in Tokyo from nothing more than a half-chance and looks to have nailed that right-wing spot at the Hurricanes.
13. Sio Tomkinson (Highlanders): Grabbed a vital intercept at the end of the first half when the Blues were trying to turn the screws.
12. Ngani Laumape (Hurricanes): Started slowly as the Sunwolves’ converted loose forward Rahboni WarrenVosayaco won the early midfield battle, but the All Black responded in the second half and set up Ben Lam’s try with a lovely kick.
11. Rieko Ioane (Blues): Caused Matt Faddes no end of problems in the first 20 minutes but the Blues couldn’t take advantage. The game’s leading metre-maker.
10. Josh Ioane (Highlanders): Stood up defensively with a brave tackle on Rieko Ioane as the last line of defence and guided the team around smartly.
9. TJ Perenara (Hurricanes): The Hurricanes threatened to completely unravel against the Sunwolves but the likes of Perenara kept them together – just.
8. Elliot Dixon (Highlanders): Has found a rich vein of form to give the Highlanders another strong option in their back row. Athletic from the base of the scrum.
7. Dalton Papali’i (Blues): Probably his best game of the campaign so far. High work rate in defence and managed to get his hands on the ball on attack, too.
6. Luke Jacobson (Chiefs): One of the biggest engines in the competition. Must be getting close to Papali’i in the All Blacks’ pecking order and has the toughness to play test footy.
5. Tom Franklin (Highlanders): There’s a reason he has been on the fringes of the All Blacks squad in recent years. Another industrious, physical performance from the lock.
4. Jackson Hemopo (Highlanders): The second row seems to suit Hemopo in Super Rugby. Started to get his running game going in the second half. 3. Tyrel Lomax (Highlanders): In the absence of Owen Franks, is Lomax now the form tighthead in New Zealand? Did a Tadhg Furlong on Tu’inukuafe for the penalty try.
2. Liam Coltman (Highlanders): Lineout was a bit wonky again but there is no better Kiwi hooker at the breakdown than Coltman. There were shades of Andrew Hore with one crucial turnover.
1. Daniel Lienert-Brown (Highlanders): Has been asked to beef up to improve his setpiece work and the hard work is paying off. Had perhaps his finest hour at scrum time on Saturday.