Hoskins Sotutu bags hat-trick as Blues power past Highlanders
Both the Blues and Highlanders claimed strong wins in round one of Super Rugby Pacific and kicked off Super Round in Melbourne as two of the most intriguing teams in the competition.
The game got off to a poor start for the Blues as Hoskins Sotutu dropped the kickoff. A steady scrum handed the Highlanders an attacking platform and after just one phase Folau Fakatava reversed play and set Sean Withy away in some space, the blindside took the opportunity and dummied his way over the line for the game’s first try after just 80 seconds.
The Blues responded by stealing the kickoff and building pressure through powerful phase play, utilising the big bodies of Sam Darry and Akira Ioane amongst others to make metres.
Having built patiently and diligently deep into the Highlanders’ half, it was Hoskins Sotutu who made amends for his initial mistake by getting over the line on a short carry.
In a concerning development for the Blues’ lock stocks, Sam Darry went down and after stoically playing on for a couple of minutes, was taken from the field with Josh Beehre coming on early.
The Highlanders’ attack was supremely efficient in the early passages, with another attacking play Rhys Patchell delivered a superb offload – which Sonny Bill Williams endorsed in commentary – that put Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens away untouched for a try in the corner.
History looked to be repeating itself as the Blues made headway down the field through resolute phase play attack. This time the Highlanders weathered the storm, earning a turnover 10 metres from their line and clearing out to halfway.
Another press from the Blues again saw the Highlanders steel the pill, this time through Timoci Tavatavanawai.
Hoskins Sotutu’s renewed intensity was evident when fielding a clearance and sprinting full tilt back into traffic.
The Blues’ handling let them down and the highlanders’ ambitious attack again kicked into gear, this time playing the territorial game.
With a line out five metres from the Blues’ line, Fakatava again reversed play and put a grubber through for Rhys Patchell who won the race and scored the Highlanders’ third try in the 26th minute.
The Blues were adamant to attack through the middle of the field with physical one-off carries and it made metres but the attack was running out of steam once they got deep into the Highlanders half.
Swinging it wider paid dividends thanks to Mark Tele’a though and with more liberal ball movement the Blues were able to finish what looked to be their last attack of the half through Taufa Funaki.
However, it wouldn’t be the last chance the Blues would have as a thundering tackle from Of a Tu’ungafasi on Ethan de Groot saw the ball spilled and Stephen Perofeta spied a gap from behind his own try line.
Perofeta had support from Tele’a as the two worked their way 70 metres up the field. Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens was caught offside trying to slow the ball down once Tele’a was dragged down and was shown a yellow card. Tele’a had no business popping up by the breakdown but found a gap only he could amongst the forward to put his team up 22-15 at the half.
The Highlanders made 152 tackles on the opening 40 and were straight back on defence after failing to claim the restart.
The Blues’ all-star loose forward trio starred as they charged upfield, assisted again by Mark Tele’a with Hoskins Sotutu again providing the finishing power.
Just three minutes into the second half the Aucklanders had expanded their lead to 14 and the Highlanders responded by changing their entire front row.
The All Blacks coaching group was in the crowd as Sotutu continued to shine and Timoci Tavatavanawai continued to attack the Blues line with enthusiasm and no shortage of courage.
Mark Tele’a snatched an intercept as the Highlanders attacked just five metres from the Blues’ line. Stephen Perofeta’s running game then shined again as he skinned Tanielu Tele’a and got his team up over halfway.
The Highlanders’ composure on both sides of the ball started to falter and it looked like the team would be subjected to their 17th straight loss against New Zealand opposition.
Fast forward to the 62nd minute and that efficient Highlanders attack came roaring back into the game after a line out 10 metres out from the Blues line. The ball was put through the hands to find Timoci Tavatavanawai and the Fijian shrugged off a couple of tacklers to bring the lead back to 10.
Hoskins Sotutu made it a hat trick minutes later through another robust carry from close to the line.
The Highlanders continued to grind and showed more promise but their execution wasn’t as strong as it was earlier in the contest. Young debutant Ajay Faleafaga finished the game on a high note though as he scored in the corner as the Blues’ energy dropped off a cliff in the final moments. The youngster then converted to finalise the score at 29-37.
A total tally of 225 tackles with just 18 misses was impressive for the young Highlanders, but only forcing the Blues to make 83 will be an enduring lesson.
Comments on RugbyPass
SBW’s bro’town commentary and lazy default to hyperbole should be ignored, a technical analyst he is not. Sotutu is a good player when games get goosey loosey, high skill set that fans of Zinzan recall with starry eyes. But you need power and mongrel at no8 in the Test arena and Sotutu gets found wanting there, much like Akira Ioane. No8’s like Zinzan and Ardie have bucketloads of mongrel and power and tenacity which allow the skill sets to flourish.
11 Go to commentsAn inside pass to attacker on the angle can make a drift defence look lead footed. Relies on fleet footed forward/s to get across from the breakdown. An argument for the smaller faster 7 perhaps?
3 Go to commentsSensational tackle. The reds one was late and rightly penalised. The other two were simultaneous with the pass. If nitpicking TMOs can’t find fault there clearly isn’t any.
1 Go to commentsBrumbies fully deserved their win on the back of their physicality and desire to control the ball. Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax should be the ABs starting front row when we start our test schedule. They have “come of age” and have bested all they have faced as well as been dominant with ball in hand in making the gainline. With De Groot, Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell backed up by Taukei'aho and Cody Taylor there's not an international front row that can trouble us. Can't wait to face the Boks over there, won't be no one point game this time.
5 Go to commentsKinda strange that he wasn’t with a premiership team or a higher level of rugby? Start playing late or something? With that kind of size and athleticism you’d think someone would have picked him up?
2 Go to commentsShows how much attitude matters. Last week the Brumbies got done, this week they dominated the tournament leaders, who were likely thinking they could cruise to victory.
5 Go to commentsA Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
5 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
11 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
5 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
3 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
2 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to comments