High noon for many of Highlanders’ All Blacks 30 19
Southern men suffer seventh successive defeat to Brumbies
by Wynne Gray A few of the repairs worked but the Highlanders remain a broken side.
The wreckage stacked up to seven successive defeats last night in Dunedin as they fell to a controlled Brumbies team.
It was a display which showed why the Brumbies lead the tournament, the Highlanders have yet to find a victory and will not fancy their luck changing next round when they tangle with the Crusaders.
Turnovers, sloppy decisions, set piece wobbles and mistakes across the park continue to bedevil the Highlanders.
Much was made of the 10 Brumbies who were announced yesterday in the Wallaby squad to train for the Lions series but the same num- ber of past or present All Blacks wore the Highlanders uniform last night. Most are looking past it unless they get some strong remedial training.
A shoddy start cost the Highlanders. They lost their opening lineout then the experienced Hosea Gear shelled an up and under.
Maybe that dented his confidence because in the next move, Henry Speight danced past him and fellow All Black Ben Smith for the opening try.
As Christian Leali’ifano kicked the conversion then a penalty the Highlanders had shipped 10 points in the opening six minutes. Just as quickly the result was sliding out of their grasp.
The Brumbies had the expert recycled loosie George Smith dominating the breakdowns, they were picking off the lineouts and using fullback Jesse Mogg to kick them into the hosts’ territory.
It was not very exciting but their percentage rugby, low error footy was very productive.
They were not immune to mistakes though and referee Chris Pollock penalised them four times at rucks for new Highlanders fiveeighths Hayden Parker to kick four fine penalties.
In between though Smith broke from a lineout drive to escape the inside defenders and bang over for the Brumbies second try.
It looked as though Gear finally had found his mojo when he popped up on the right wing, evaded several defenders and planted the ball across the line as he lay on his back. TMO Keith Brown disagreed and the Brumbies went to the sheds with a 17- 12 lead at the break.
The interval brought a change of ideas about breaking down the well- drilled Brumbies. Coach Jamie Joseph wanted his men to run more possession to try and stress the visitors’ defence.
Instead the Brumbies applied most of the pressure and when their rushing line created a loose ball, Joe Tomane collected and ran 55m for the try. When the TMO decided there had been no obvious infringement, the Brumbies had pushed out to a 30- 12 advantage as they approached the last quarter.
By then Aaron Smith had replaced Fumiaki Tanaka at halfback. He had a few uneasy moments but scored a late try with a dummy and dart. What became more noticeable was that he and a rare few colleagues like TJ Ioane appeared to have any sting about their play until it was far too late. Brumbies 30 ( Henry Speight, George Smith, Joe Tomane tries; Christian Leali’ifano 3 con, 2 pen, Nick White pen) Highlanders 19 ( Hosea Gear, Aaron Smith, tries; Hayden Parker 3 pen, con) Halftime: 17- 12.
Today
Baseball: Washington Nationals v Atlanta Braves 11am live ESPN. Basketball: NBA, LA Lakers v Golden State Warriors 2.30pm live ESPN. Cricket: IPL, Mumbai Indians v Pune Warriors, Wankhede Stadium 10.20pm live SS Highlights. Golf: The Masters, Augusta National, 2nd round 7am live SS1. Ice Hockey: NHL, Chicago Blackhawks v Detroit Red Wings 12.30pm live SS Highlights. League: NSW Cup, Newcastle Knights v Windsor Wolves, Hunter Stadium 3pm live SS2. Holden Cup, Knights Under- 20 v Panthers Under20, Hunter Stadium 5pm live SS2. NRL, Knights v Panthers, Hunter Stadium 7pm live SS2; Raiders v Warriors, Canberra Stadium 9.30pm live SS2; Rabbitohs v Storm, ANZ Stadium 9.30pm live SS3. Motorsport: Australian V8 Supercars, ITM 400, Pukekohe Park, qualifying 9.33am; top 10 shootout 10.58am; race six 1.10pm; race seven 3.55pm live SS3. F1, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai International Circuit, practice session three 2.55pm live SS1; qualifying 5.55pm live SS3. Rugby: RaboDirect Pro 12, Ulster v Newport Ghent Dragons 6am live Rugby Channel. Investec Super 15, Chiefs v Reds, Waikato Stadium 4.30pm; Blues v Hurricanes, Eden Park 7pm; Rebels v Kings, AAMI Park 9.35pm; Force v Crusaders, nib Stadium 11.40pm live SS1/ Rugby Channel.
Tomorrow
Cricket: IPL, Chennai Super Kings v Challengers Bangalore, MA Chidambaram Stadium 2.20am; Kolkata Knight Riders v Sunrisers Hyderabad, Eden Gardens 10.20pm live SS Highlights. Golf: The Masters, Augusta National, 3rd round 7.05am live SS1. Ice Hockey: NCAA, Frozen Four Championship, Pittsburgh teams tba 11am live ESPN. League: Holden Cup, Sea Eagles Under- 20 v Sharks Under- 20, Brookvale Oval 1.30pm live SS2. NRL, Sea Eagles v Sharks, Brookvale Oval 3.30pm live SS2; Wests Tigers v Dragons, Sydney Cricket Ground 5pm live SS3; Titans v Eels, Skilled Park 8.30pm live SS3. Motorcycling: Superbike World Championship, Motorland Aragon , race one/ Supersport 9.30pm live SS1. Motorsport: Australian V8 Supercars, ITM 400, Pukekohe Park, qualifying 10.03am; race eight 1pm;
Watch this
Another test for the remote. V8s at Pukekohe and F1 Grand Prix in China. Superbikes in Spain, the Green Jacket gets handed out at Augusta, plenty of wham, bam in IPL action, key FA Cup clashes along with the usual dollop of rugby, league and netball. race nine 3.45pm live SS3. Nascar Sprint Cup Series, NRA 500, Texas Motor Speedway 11am live SS1. F1, Chinese Grand Prix, Shanghai International Circuit 6.55pm live SS2. Netball: ANZ Championship, Adelaide Thunderbirds v West Coast Fever 3pm delayed; Central Pulse v Southern Steel, 7pm live SS1. Rugby: Investec Super 15, Stormers v Sharks, Newlands, Cape Town 3am live SS1/ Rugby Channel; Bulls v Cheetahs, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria 5.05am live SS1. RaboDirect Pro 12, Munster v Leinster 5.25am live Rugby Channel. Soccer: FA Cup, Wigan Athletic v Millwall 3.30am live ESPN. EPL, Arsenal v Norwich City 1.53am live SS2; Everton v Queens Park Rangers 1.53am live SS3; Aston Villa v Fulham 4am delayed SS2; Reading v Liverpool 6am delayed SS2; Southampton v West Ham 8am delayed SS2. Hyundai A- League, 2nd semifinal, Central Coast mariners v Melbourne Victory, Bluetongue Stadium 7pm live SS Highlights.
Monday
Australian Rules: Collingwood v Hawthorn, midnight delayed SS1. Baseball: MLB, New York Yankees v Baltimore Orioles noon live ESPN. Cricket: IPL, Rajasthan Royals v Kings X1 Punjab, Sawai Mansingh Stadium 2.20am live SS3. Golf: The Masters, Augusta National, 4th round 6am live SS1. Motorcycling: Superbike World Championship, Motorland Aragon, race two 1am live SS1. Netball: ANZ Championship, Canterbury Tactix v Northern Mystics, CBS Arena 7.30pm; NSW Swifts v Queensland Firebirds 9.30pm live SS1. Rugby: Aviva Premiership, Leicester Tigers v London Wasps 2.40am live Rugby Channel. Soccer: EPL, Stoke City v Manchester United 12.58am live SS2. FA Cup, Chelsea v Manchester City 2.55sm live ESPN. Tennis: ATP World Tour, Monte Carlo Rolex Masters 8.30pm live ESPN.
Tuesday
Baseball: MLB, teams tba 11am live Cricket: IPL, Chennai Super Kings v Pune Warriors, MA Chidambaram Stadium 2.20am; Kings X1 Punjab v Kolkata Knight Riders, Punjab Stadium, Mohali 10.20pm live SS3.
ATP World Tour, Monte Carlo Rolex Masters 8.30pm live ESPN.
Wednesday
Baseball: MLB, Baltimore Orioles v Tampa Bay Rays 11am live ESPN. Cricket: IPL, Royal Challengers Bangalore v Delhi Daredevils, M Chinnaswamy Stadium 2.20am live SS3; Pune Warriors v Sunrisers Hyderabad, Maharashtra Stadium, Pune 10.20pm live SS1. Soccer: EPL, Arsenal v Everton 6.38am live SS2. Tennis: ATP World Tour, Monte Carlo Rolex Masters 8.30pm live ESPN.
Thursday
Baseball: MLB, teams tba 11am live Basketball: NBA, LA Lakers v Houston Rockets 2.30pm live ESPN. iiNet Australian NBL, finals game 3 ( if needed), NZ Breakers v Perth Wildcats, Vector Arena 7.30pm live SS3. Boxing: Blake Caparello v Jorge Rodriguez Olivera 10pm live SS1. Cricket: IPL, Rajasthan Royals v Mumbai Indians, Sawai Mansingh Stadium 2.20am live SS1. Soccer: EPL, Man City v Wigan Athletic 6.38aqm live SS1; West Ham v Manchester United 6.38am live SS2; Fulham v Chelsea 6.53am live SS3. Tennis: ATP World Tour, Monte Carlo Rolex Masters, round of 16 8.30pm live ESPN.
Friday
Cricket: IPL, Delhi Daredevils v Chennai Super Kings, Delhi 2.20am live SS2. Darts: Premier League, Dublin 6am live Ss2. Extreme Sports: X Games Brazil, Foz Do Iguacu 11am live ESPN. Golf: European PGA Tour, Reale Seruros Open de Espana, Parador de El Saler, 1st round 1am live SS3. US PGA Tour, RBC Heritage, 1st round 7am live SS1. League: Ancac test Kangaroos v Kiwis, Canberra 9.30pm SS2. Motorsport: F1, Bahrain Grand Prix, Bahrain International Circuit, 1st/ 2nd practice 6.55pm/ 10.55pm live SS3. Rugby: Investec Super 15, Hurricanes v Force, Westpac Stadium 7pm; Waratahs v Chiefs, Allianz Stadium 9.35pm live SS1/ Rugby Channel. Tennis: ATP World Tour, Monte Carlo Rolex Masters, quarter- finals 8.30pm live ESPN. Cricket: IPL, Sunrisers Hyderabad v Kings X1 Punjab, Uppal 2.20am live SS2. Extreme Sports: X Games Brazil, Foz Do Iguacu 7am/ 11am live ESPN. Golf: European PGA Tour, Reale Seruros Open de Espana 2nd round 1am live SS2. US PGA Tour, RBC Heritage, 2nd round 7am live SS1. Rugby: RaboDirect Pro 12, Connacht v Ulster 6.40am live Rugby Channel. Triathlon: ITU World Series, San Diego, women’s race 9am live SS3.
Rugby
Saturday
Class/ Formula 3, Mangere Bridge. Investec Super 15, today, Chiefs v Reds, Waikato Stadium 4.45pm; Blues v Hurricanes, Eden Park 7.35pm. Friday, Hurricanes v Force, Westpac Stadium 7.35pm. Today, club ( all 2.45pm, home team first), Auckland, Alan McEvoy Trophy, round two, College Rifles v Otahuhu, Grammar Carlton v East Tamaki, Manukau Rovers v Maungarua, Marist v Papatoetoe, Ponsonby v Suburbs, University v Pakuranga, Waitakere City v Eden, Waitemata bye. North Harbour Premier, round three, Western v Takapuna, Mahurangi v Massey, Northcote v East Coast Bays, Marist v Silverdale, North Shore v Glenfield. Counties Manukau, McNamara Cup, round five, Karaka v Onewhero, Manurewa v Pukekohe, Papakura v Patumahoe, Waiuku v Ardmore Marist, Bombay bye.
Soccer
Oceania Champions League, today, Auckland City v AS Mont Dore, Kiwitea Street 3pm. Wednesday, Auckland City v AS Dragon, Trusts Stadium 3pm; Waitakere United v AS Mont Dore, Trusts Stadium 6pm. Lotto Northern Regional League ( 2.45pm unless stated; home team first), today, premier, East Coast Bays v Birkenhead United, Hamilton Wanderers v Bay Olympic, Onehunga Sports v Three Kings United, Ellerslie v Manurewa 6pm. First division, Forrest Hill Milford v Ngaruawahia, Melville v Eastern Suburbs, Papatoetoe v Takapuna, North Force v Glenfield Rovers. Second division, Lynn Avon v Claudelands Rovers, Onehunga Mangere v Albany, Oratia v Mangere United, Fencibles v Western Springs, Manukau City v Warkworth, Tauranga City v Waiuku 2.30pm. Tomorrow, first division, North Shore United v Mt Albert Ponsonby. Women’s premier ( 1pm), Pukekohe v Eastern Suburbs, Claudelands Rovers v Three Kings United, Bay of Plenty v Forrest Hill Milford, Glenfield Rovers v Lynn Avon, Papatoetoe v Western Springs, Fencibles v Papakura City.
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