Abysmal goalkicking display on Saturday night harks back to 2011 World Cup absurdity
Mitch Hunt was a prominent figure in the Highlanders’ shock win over the Crusaders last weekend, but the first five couldn’t weave the same kind of magic against the Chiefs on Saturday night.
While the former Crusaders was reliable on attack, chalking up 70 metres with the ball in hand, he also left a considerable number of points on the field through missed shots at goal.
The signs weren’t great early on, with Hunt missing his first penalty attempt – a relatively straightforward effort from in front – in the second minute of the match.
He missed two further shots in the first half, ultimately leaving eight points unconverted.
While the Highlanders went into the break five points short of the visiting Chiefs, they could have been 13-10 up if Hunt’s radar had been on song.
Things didn’t get much better in the second half, with Hunt missing his first attempt on the posts following an early Aaron Smith try.
It wasn’t until the 53rd minute of the match that the Highlanders No 10 was able to land his first successful kick, nailing a fairly regulation shot – and it was to be Hunt’s last attempt of the night with one-test All Black Josh Ioane then joining the fray and taking over the kicking duties.
Highlanders coach Tony Brown lamented the missed opportunities after the match but suggested there were plenty more areas where his team needed to improve.
“[It was] poor from the boys,” he said. “But sometimes you have those days. Mitch kicked everything last week and missed everything tonight.
“We just didn’t quite play at the right intensity, we were soft in a few areas of the game, we just didn’t quite play as well as we did last week. We couldn’t prepare ourselves to reach that same intensity, which meant that our game suffered.”
There were 23 penalties whistled up on Saturday night. Who's to blame for the stop-start affair? #SuperRugbyAotearoa #HIGvCHIhttps://t.co/8yeHLhL6GY
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 11, 2021
Hunt wasn’t the only player to struggle off the tee, however.
Damian McKenzie, one of the more accurate kickers in New Zealand rugby, also had his fair share of misses, landing six of his nine attempts.
Admittedly, two of those kicks were taken from the 50-metre line. Your Jordie Barretts and David Havilis may not struggle with such lengthy shots, but it proved slightly beyond McKenzie’s abilities – although he still had the distance in him.
Played under the roof, there was little wind or weather conditions to contend with, making the poor kicking showing all the more perplexing.
In some ways, it was reminiscent of the 2011 Rugby World Cup when the likes of Martin Rodriguez and Jonny Wilkinson struggled under the roof in England’s narrow victory over Argentina. The two normally reliable kickers missed five penalty attempts each, with England eventually prevailing 13-9.
A week later, Toby Flood had no issues kicking in Dunedin but Georgia’s Merab Kvirikashvili had a case of the yips, landing just one of his six penalty attempts.
Romania’s D?nu? Dumbrav? was the unlucky man the following week, knocking over just one of his four kicks.
Come the end of the tournament, just eight penalty attempts were landed at Forsyth Barr Stadium from 26 attempts.
The kickers weren’t quite as poor as that on Saturday night, but the game would have unfurled completely differently if either Hunt or McKenzie had better accuracy on the night.
Ultimately, the Chiefs won by just three points, after McKenzie nailed a penalty in extra time to secure the game.
The victory keeps the Chiefs in the hunt for a finals spot while the Highlanders are now all but out of the reckoning.
Comments on RugbyPass
The value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
40 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
40 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
40 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
51 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
40 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
40 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
40 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
40 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to comments