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Ex-All Black predicts when the Highlanders losing streak against NZ teams will end
Ex-All Blacks first five-eighth and two-time Super Rugby champion Aaron Cruden can see the Highlanders ending their 17-game winless streak against rival New Zealand teams this year.
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After a disastrous 2023 season which saw the Highlanders battle to avoid the wooden spoon, they have started 2024 with two impressive performances.
Although they weren’t able to defeat the Blues in Super round, they showed they can match it with the best of the New Zealand sides with a 37-23 loss.
The Highlanders started last season with a 60-22 defeat to the Blues and a 52-15 loss to the Crusaders, highlighting just how far they have come.
Former Chiefs playmaker Cruden believed we have seen enough from the Highlanders that showed they will beat one of the New Zealand teams.
“I can, I really can, based on the first couple of weeks,” Cruden told Sky Sport’s The Breakdown panel.
“That’s just based on effort. A lot of it is just based around the effort plays. The comrade, the connection you can actually see on the field.
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“They’ve got some star power all across the park. That guy [Folau Fakatava], I was going to highlight. I think he’s had an outstanding start to the season.
“They’ve had to make almost double the amount of tackles in the last two weeks, compared to their opposition.
“And they are over 90 per cent success rate, 93 is it, there you go. That is attitude personified right there and that’s where you can see the unity within the group.”
The Highlanders last win over a Kiwi side during the regular season was nearly three years ago, a 35-29 win over the Blues in 2021.
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Ex-All Black Stephen Bates predicted the drought would be broken against the Hurricanes, Black Fern Chelsea Semple picked the Blues but Cruden saw the Highlanders trumping their southern rivals.
“I feel like the last one they won was against the Chiefs, was it?” Cruden said.
“But I’m going to go the Crusaders probably. The battle of the south, I think they will get up for that one and potentially tip them up.”
The Highlanders were able to beat the Crusaders 41-14 in pre-season and will meet in round 12 in early May.
Comments on RugbyPass
Tamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
1 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
1 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
33 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
33 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
33 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to comments