'Massive signs of progress': How the Highlanders have transformed themselves to defy lowly expectations
While the Crusaders emerged from Saturday’s South Island derby with a 40-20 victory in Dunedin, Highlanders head coach Aaron Mauger is not dismayed by what his side produced at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Written off by many heading into the revised Super Rugby Aotearoa campaign based on their dismal pre-COVID results and supposedly weaker squad, the southerners have earned plenty of plaudits for their efforts in the opening month of the competition.
A first-up win over the Chiefs was followed by a tight 27-24 defeat to the unbeaten Blues, where a last-minute call to opt for an ultimately unsuccessful lineout drive rather than take a penalty shot at goal cost the Highlanders the chance to go two from two to open their campaign.
Their defeat at the hands of local rivals the Crusaders – with a scoreline that flattered the visitors – leaves the club with a 1-2 record heading into the halfway stage of the domestic league.
Mauger, however, believes his side have turned a corner compared to where they were prior to the initial Super Rugby competition’s suspension.
Languishing at the bottom half of the table with just one win from five outings, an increased commitment to the cause has lifted the Highlanders’ game drastically.
“We were in it for 76 minutes, six points down, and a couple of key moments through that second half made it different,” Mauger said post-match.
“[There are] massive signs of progress. I think you look at the fight in this team.
“When you can live and die by your commitment to each other and what you stand for, you can’t really ask for much more.
“For us, it’s just being able to live with intensity for the whole game. We fell a bit short last week, and we fell a bit short tonight when it really mattered.
“It’s just time. We’ll keep working on those things.”
Part of the Highlanders’ turnaround has been the progression of the franchise’s forward pack, who have collectively stepped up to free up more options for the backline out wide.
Leading the charge is nine-test All Blacks loose forward Shannon Frizell, whose stunning all-round performances over the past fortnight have made for an intriguing selection dilemma for national boss Ian Foster.
Young loose forwards Hoskins Sotutu, Cullen Grace and Marino Mikaele-Tu’u have all caught the eye in Super Rugby Aotearoa, with many calling for their selections in Foster’s next All Blacks squad, whenever that takes place.
Frizell’s physically confronting output, though, will no doubt keep him well in the selection frame, as it has proved vital to the Highlanders’ campaign.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCPMEzYgzBN/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
“He’s been awesome in his first three game, he’s a bit of a menace,” Mauger said.
“We had plans to get the ball back from kick-offs, and he was outstanding there.
“We wanted to really take our game to the Crusaders, and he was a big part of that early on, getting the ball back, carrying hard and close to the line, so he’s in pretty good form.”
Frizell’s impressive showings will need to continue next week to help make up for the likely losses of lineout operator Josh Dickson and young utility back Ngane Punivai to injury.
Those defections add to a mounting injury list at the Highlanders, who are already without Sione Misiloi (foot), Thomas Umaga-Jensen (shoulder), James Lentjes (ankle), Tevita Nabura (back), Conor Garden-Bachop (back) and Sam Gilbert (knee) for the season.
Hooker Nathan Vella is also working his way back from a concussion, but key players Nehe Milner-Skudder and Josh Ioane aren’t too far away from returning from their respective shoulder and quad injuries.
The Highlanders will travel to Wellington later this week to play the Hurricanes on Sunday, with the side for that match to be named on Friday.
Comments on RugbyPass
Ben Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
7 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
7 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
7 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to comments