Highlanders vs Force takes: Rennie's men, crucial miss from Force

A sunny Dunedin afternoon hosted two teams eager to make their way back into the playoff picture on Saturday, in a game both would have been targeting as a big opportunity in the context of their respective seasons.

The Highlanders started with more gusto, but the Force found their feet as the first half wore on and ended the period with two quick tries and the lead.

The visitors dropped off the pace in the second half, though, and despite generating momentum and scoring twice in quick succession just after the hour mark, ultimately fell to a 39-31 defeat under the roof.

Here are some takeaways from the contest.

Crucial miss from Force

Since Super Rugby Pacific shifted to a six-team playoffs model, the margin for error throughout the season has dropped immensely.

When facing one of the only two teams that finished below them in 2025, the Force must have been considering this fixture a must-win to reach the postseason in 2026.

It’ll sting more because the Force had their chances, and were dominating areas like the lineout and possession.

But tackling at 75 per cent and making just two linebreaks makes life very difficult in Super Rugby, and the Force’s lack of X-factor has put a lot of strain on their stars, Carlo Tizzano and Ben Donaldson. To keep those players firing on all cylinders deep into the season, Simon Cron must make some decisions on systems and rotation.

The club’s next game is against the Hurricanes in Wellington, before a bye week gives them a chance to rest and reset.

Rennie’s men

New All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie says he knows how he wants the team to play, and he will select players who can bring his gameplan to life.

What former players have said about their time under Rennie is that there is enormous emphasis on the breakdown, which, along with Rennie’s own comments about wanting his All Blacks to be “brilliant at the basics”, gives a strong indication of what traits the coach will be looking for when selecting his first squad.

All of this seemingly bodes well for a player like Timoci Tavatavanawai, who, as usual, was an absolute weapon at the breakdown against the Force. The midfielder had two breakdown steals in the first half and challenged throughout, sticking close to the action while searching for opportunities.

Jack Taylor’s breakdown nous is also an attribute that won’t hurt the 22-year-old’s All Blacks prospects moving forward, with Ethan de Groot and Veveni Lasaqa also winning turnovers at the breakdown.

Player Turnovers Won

1

Veveni Lasaqa

3

2

Carlo Tizzano

3

3

Timoci Tavatavanawai

2

Revenge is bitter, revenge is sweet

Nathan Hastie is seemingly loving life in Western Australia after starting his Super Rugby career in the Deep South, having started all four rounds to date and performing well throughout.

The halfback’s kicking game was a big feature of the match for the Force, and put his former team’s backfield under consistent pressure. The 24-year-old didn’t carry the ball all that often, but when he did, his former teammates welcomed him home with some punishing defence. The Highlanders were clearly happy to see their old mate, and it added some spice to the contest.

On the flip side, Reesjan Pasitoa’s move from the Force to the Highlanders has had a slightly shaky start, but the playmaker was up to the task of burying his former club with a late penalty kick that, crucially, pushed the hosts’ lead to eight.

These narratives made the afternoon’s action that much more enjoyable, highlighting the beauty of player movement in sport.

Super Rugby Pacific’s best playmaking fullback

Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens is continuing his rise as one of New Zealand’s premier fullbacks and has a clear point of difference as an All Blacks candidate.

The Taranaki man is a try-assist machine, with scoring opportunities created via kick and pass, adding even more venom to his fellow outside backs’ scoring prowess.

The Highlanders are kicking more than any other team in 2026, and kicks invite more kicks, meaning Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens is getting plenty of usage in the Highlanders backfield. On Saturday afternoon, he led his team in carries and try assists.

The 24-year-old’s form is nothing new, either, with Taranaki’s competitiveness in the NPC and his recent All Blacks XV selections verifying his quality.