Brown’s boys confound Crusaders
TONY Brown’s Highlanders inflicted leaders Crusaders’ first loss of the season and got their own campaign back on track after a tough week for the Dunedin franchise.
Earlier this week, Highlanders dropped six players, including All Black Josh Ioane, for breaching team protocol by hosting a house party after last week’s defeat to the Hurricanes.
Brown said after the 33-12 victory: “Everyone played out of their skin and with what happened this week the fact we’ve come out and performed, is all I can ask for.”
A mismatch looked on the cards as the Crusaders were able to field 11 All Blacks in comparison to the Highlanders’ two.
Star man Mitch Hunt opened the scoring with two long-range penalties that rewarded the Highlanders’ promising start.
Former Crusaders flanker Billy Harmon extended the lead with a converted try before Hunt added another penalty.
Crusaders were a shadow of their normal selves, producing a staggering seven handling errors and conceding eight penalties in the first half alone.
A converted try by player of the tournament so far Codie Taylor looked the spark for a second-half Crusaders comeback but another penalty by Hunt and a converted try from Michael Collins gave the Highlanders breathing space. And despite a try from David Havili, Highlanders saw out the win with a late converted try by Connor Garden-Bachop.
Leon MacDonald’s Blues returned to winning ways with a 27-17 victory over the Hurricanes.
Despite crushing losses to the Crusaders and the Chiefs, the Blues are still on course to secure second place and a spot in the final.
Hurricanes paid for poor discipline. Flanker Du’Plessis Kirifi was yellow carded in the first half for a dangerous cleanout on Otere Black at a ruck, while Ardie Savea was binned in the second half for bringing down a driving maul heading for the try line, with a penalty try awarded.
Blues scored through TJ Faiane and Mark Telea while Reed Prinsep’s late try looked to have secured a losing bonus only for Black to kick a late penalty to deny them.