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Highlanders come from behind to thump Hurricanes in final pre-season hit out
The Highlanders have finished their pre-season with a big 35-12 win over the Hurricanes at Molyneux Park in Alexandra.
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The victory should significantly boost the confidence of the Highlanders ahead of their season-opener against the Crusaders next week, while the Hurricanes will have plenty to work on in the week leading up to their first match against the Blues.
It wasn’t all one-way traffic to start off with, though, as the visitors dominated possession and territory in the early stages and were rewarded for their good attacking structures with a try to Jordie Barrett.
The hosts can attribute weak defence on barnstorming loose forward Devan Flanders as the reason behind Barrett’s fourth-minute try, but it took a long time before anyone else registered on the scoreboard.
In fact it took a yellow card to Barrett before the Highlanders were able to level the scores, with the fullback pinged for a professional foul to deny the opposition what would have been a scintillating try originating from deep within their own half.
The ensuing scrum gave the Highlanders what they wanted, though, with a pick off the back from No. 8 Marino Mikaele-Tu’u splintering the defensive line, which couldn’t stop the powerful follow-up effort from Shannon Frizell from close range.
While that brought joy to the impressive crowd that came out in force in Central Otago, there will have been plenty of grimaces in the Highlanders’ coaching box when midfielder Fetuli Paea limped from the field with a painful-looking ankle sprain.
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How long the two-test Tongan international, a new recruit from the Crusaders who looked very athletic in the No. 13 jersey, will be sidelined for is yet-to-be-determined, but the Hurricanes didn’t hesitate to take advantage of his departure.
Some good continuity from the away side put Ngani Laumape over the chalk for a well-taken try, capping off an impressive 40 minutes where he began to show a full bag of tricks that included some nice distribution and a new-look kicking game.
He was one of many to have stood out throughout the first half – returning Hurricanes wing Julian Savea looked trim and full of energy, while emerging flanker Du’Plessis Krifi was a menace at the breakdown.
Halfback Jonathan Taumateine stated his case well to fill the void at No. 9 left by TJ Perenara, who is in Japan on sabbatical, and the injured Jamie Booth with some lively showings.
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For the Highlanders, Paea and Sio Tomkinson combined well in the midfield before the former was forced from the field on the stroke of halftime, with both players providing plenty of punch on both sides of the ball.
Waratahs recruit Perese could now miss half the Super Rugby AU season following an outrageous tip tackle during #REDvWAR ?
If this red card law variation was used in the #sixnations, the table would likely look very different. https://t.co/2m9dbZRQqg
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 19, 2021
Highlanders fullback Nehe Milner-Skudder also made a welcome return to Super Rugby action, playing solidly for his new side against his old team.
The second half proved to be a different story entirely, though.
The additions of livewire backs such as Folau Fakatava, Josh Ioane and Freedom Vahaakolo sprung the Highlanders into life in a half where they scored 28 unanswered points.
Those three all linked together to pierce the Hurricanes’ defence with some swift intertwining distribution that sucked the opposition in-field, allowing Ngatungane Punivai to score in the corner without much hassle.
Just a few minutes later, livewire outside back Connor Garden-Bachop got in on the action, scoring on the back of a linebreak through the middle of the field by Scott Gregory, which was followed by some good intuition shown by Fakatava and Ioane.
Two further tries were scored by returning flanker James Lentjes, who was making his first appearance in almost a year after suffering a horror ankle and leg injury against the Melbourne Rebels.
His brace, both of which came from solid driving mauls set by the Highlanders’ forward pack, gave the match a feel-good factor about it, and puts the franchise in good stead ahead of their season-opener next Friday.
Highlanders 35 (Tries to James Lentjes (2), Shannon Frizell, Ngatungane Punivai, Connor Garden-Bachop; 4 conversions to Josh Ioane, conversion to Mitch Hunt)
Hurricanes 12 (Tries to Jordie Barrett and Ngani Laumape; conversion to Barrett; yellow card to Barrett)
Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments