Hurricanes young gun midfielder looking to emulate deeds of All Black great Conrad Smith
Riley Higgins should be fearless facing the Crusaders in Christchurch for the first time in his Hurricanes career. In seven appearances for the Hurricanes, the 21-year-old midfield back has won six times last losing to the Blues (19-25) on March 11, 2023.
In 2022 Higgins was part of the Wellington Lions NPC team that broke a 22-year Premiership drought at Orangetheory Stadium. Wellington defeated Canterbury 26-18 in the final. In the 2023 NPC, he featured for an understrength Wellington who upset Canterbury 36-31 at the same venue. Canterbury fielded six internationals.
Yes, Orangetheory Stadium is a Crusaders fortress. Since the makeshift venue opened in 2012 following the tragic 2011 earthquake the Crusaders have won 86 of 103 matches on the field, which includes a 36-game unbeaten streak from 2016 to 2020.
However, the Hurricanes are soaring, and the Crusaders are seemingly on the canvas. For the first time since 2015, the Hurricanes have started a season with three consecutive wins. That year the Hurricanes topped the round-robin and made the final. By contrast, the Crusaders have lost three successive games for the first time since 1996.
The Crusaders have so many injuries that some in Christchurch have joked senior club champions Marist Albion should replace them in Super Rugby Pacific.
Scott Barrett (finger), Will Jordan (shoulder), Braydon Ennor (knee), Ethan Blackadder (calf), Brodie McAlister (knee), Codie Taylor (sabbatical), Fergus Burke (Achilles), Tamaiti Williams (hamstring), Reveiz Reihana (shoulder), Leigh Halfpenny (shoulder), and Joe Moody (Covid) are all sidelined for the Crusaders.
That injury bill amounts to 600 Crusaders games and 160 tries. Halfpenny came from Wales after 101 Test matches and 801 points. He hasn’t managed a debut yet. Combined Barrett, Jordan, Ennor, Blackadder, Williams, and Moody have 212 All Blacks Test caps (154 wins).
Captain Barrett featured in 104 of the 118 games (99 wins) coached by seven-time Super Rugby-winning coach Scott Roberston.
Still, Higgins and the Hurricanes are wary of the defending champions.
“They’re still a good side and they’ll be desperate,” Higgins told RugbyPass.
“We don’t really study individuals. We look at teams as a collective and ask where we can exploit them. There are a couple of areas where we think they could be vulnerable.”
Higgins was reluctant to disclose specifics but admitted consigning the Crusaders to an entirely winless month was a unique opportunity.
“I guess winning our first four games would prove a point to the competition and make it very hard for them. We’re not looking too far ahead. We’re taking things one game at a time.”
For the first time since July 21, 2020, there won’t be a single Barrett on either side. Higgins is replacing Jordie Barrett after the 57-Test All Black was suspended for three weeks for receiving a red card in the 38-33 win against the Reds on March 3.
In last Saturday’s 29-21 win against the Blues, Higgins thrived by creating plenty of chances for his outsides and scoring a try.
“My try was all down to Kini Naholo. What a beast. He beat like seven people, and I happened to be in the right place at the right time,” Higgins said.
“Starting at 12 is a good opportunity. The older boys do their best to make you feel comfortable. Brett Cameron is a good talker and Billy Procter and I have been close since I joined the Hurricanes. He’s got a great rugby brain; he’s generous with his time.
“Jordie is still training with the boys. He’s important even when he’s not playing.”
Higgins had to run 35 meters at full speed to complete the Naholo break. It happened with a dozen minutes remaining and the Hurricanes leading 24-14.
Since he made the New Zealand Secondary Schools out of St Patrick’s College Silverstream in 2020, a season he scored 17 tries in 12 games, Higgins has been earmarked for great things. He’s scored 24 tries in 24 matches for his club side, Petone, and was part of an unbeaten New Zealand Under 20’s team in 2022. In 19 appearances for Wellington, he has enjoyed 16 wins and scored eight tries. Winning the Premiership final against Canterbury in Christchurch is a career highlight.
“That was awesome. We built a great culture and game plan that season and were hissing for that game. I played the whole game too,” Higgins recalled.
“Tamaiti Ellison was our coach then, he’s with the Crusaders now. I’d never underestimate any team Tamaiti coaches. Being an All Black himself he understands what the players are going through. He has a great rugby brain and always gets input from everyone before making decisions and that creates a lot of buy-in.”
The Hurricanes have the best record of any visiting team at Orangetheory Stadium. A quarter of the Crusaders 16 defeats at the venue are to the capital-based franchise. In 2020 the Hurricanes ended the Crusaders unprecedented unbeaten run at the venue. Wes Goosen scored two tries and Jordie Barrett kicked 19 points in a 34-32 victory.
In 2014 Alapati Leiua beat six Crusaders defenders in scoring an individual, 60-meter, match-winning try. When the humble Samoan international thanked God for his try a reporter jokingly intervened and said, “No Alapati, God would like to thank you.”
The Hurricanes were the first team to beat the Crusaders at Orangetheory Stadium. That happened in 2012. All Blacks legend Conard Smith scored two tries in a 23-22 success. Higgins was nine years old when that happened.
“Conard Smith. He was the man who did all the off-the-ball stuff I didn’t know about then. What a player. Billy Procter is similar now. They’re both underrated.”
The Crusaders host the Hurricanes to start Round 4 of Super Rugby Pacific at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch. Kick off is at 7:05 pm.
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