Scotty Stevenson's Ten Takeaways from Highlanders v Reds
1. If you’re going to win in Dunedin, don’t kick the ball to Ben Smith.
Desperate times call for desperate measures and for much of Friday night’s game at Forsyth Barr, the Reds just needed a way to get out of their own 22. There are many ways to do this, and none of them should ever involve kicking the ball shallow to the Highlanders’ fullback. Ben Smith’s ability to attack the line and free up a team mate with a well-timed pass is almost invariably the catalyst for a scoring drive. Smith finished the game with a team-high 71 metres, most earned on kick counter.
2. Jordan Petaia is the most exciting back in Australia.
The 18-year old ran for more metres than anyone else in this game but, crucially, augmented his attack stats with some excellent defensive work. The more experienced Samu Kerevi may have made the bigger hits, but it was Petaia who made the biggest impact. Fast, agile and blessed with excellent game sense, Petaia was ocassionally caught short on the rush, but wouldn’t have to cop all the blame for that.
3. Luke Whitelock is better than you think he is.
Big brother Sam gets plenty of plaudits for his quiet aggression as captain of the Crusaders, but Luke deserves admiration for his cool-headed eadership of the Highlanders. Fallling behind in the final quarter, the Highlanders could have gone full chaos mode but instead settled for (mostly) grafting away at an inexperienced Reds bench. It was excellent leadership from Whitelock who’s efforts at the ruck before Dillon Hunt’s match-winning try illustrated how crucial his tireless efforts are to the team.
4. Every ground needs a Zoo.
Let’s look at the ways the Zoo is amazing:
1. A DJ playing songs your Grandparents smoked weed to.
2. Every single person singing the words.
3. Spontaneous Waisake Naholo chanting.
4. Everyone having a great time.
5. Consensual frottage.
6. Actually full.
7. People also watching some rugby.
5. Liam Coltman wants you to know he is still there.
Putting aside the lineouts for a second (The Highlanders’ lineout operated at 71%, the Reds’ at 62%) and the fact the Reds scored two of their tries from lineout turnovers, and let’s focus on Coltman’s other work for the night, because you can’t lay all the blame on his darts. To be blunt, the man ran a greater support role than a Wonderbra, never once shirking a carry – even after getting melted in his first hit up of the game – and was Hore-like over the ball on defensive ruck duty, helping nullify more than one promising Reds attack.
6. The Reds have more hitmen than the mob.
Head Coach Brad Thorn made a two-code living out of smashing the will to live out of opponents, and at least some of the big man’s gift for inflicting pain is rubbing off on the Reds. Samu Kerevi, Chris Feauai-Sautia, Sefanaia Naivalu and Jordan Petaia may be the hardest hitting backline foursome in the game at the moment. Add to this a looseforward trio that also knows how to drop a bloke on his ass and you have a team with the ability to damage a few egos and ribcages. Chris Feauai-Sautia’s shot on Teihorangi Walden should have been a game-ender for the latter but his HIA replacement, Marty Banks, ran one too many Beaver Donald show-and-goes and so Aaron Mauger had to put Walden back on.
7. If Taniela Tupou played in any other country he would be your favourite player.
The kid’s still as green as a bud in early spring but do yourself a favour and watch how fast he gets around the park. Tupou looks as at home standing at first receiver as he does guarding the ruck. In fact, in the lead up to Chris Feauai-Sautia’s first half try the ‘backline’ consisted of both props and the winger. Most people would assume that at this point the whole enterprise would fall over faster than a two legged table but Tupou simply through a beautiful left-right ball to the aforementioned Feauai-Sautia who skinned Tevita Li to score. This was just one example. Tupou is best enjoyed live at the ground.
8. Aaron Smith has found a new friend.
The joy of the Aaron Smith-Lima Sopoaga combination was an innate understanding of eachother’s talents. Sopoaga was happy to let Smith find the right target with both pass and kick and often came into his own on second or third phase ball when Smith needed a different set up. Watching the Smith-Ioane combination in this match showed how hard the pair have worked to fit into eachother’s game. There were moments of genuine clarity from Ioane who, at just 23, has been given the full backing of Aaron Mauger. Smith, it seems, also trusts him. That is great news for Highlanders fans. Oh, and Aaron Smith is a one-man Cirque du Soliel. Do yourself a favour and re-watch some of his ball-handling skills in this match.
9. Shannon Frizell will see you now.
A mere ennumeration of Frizell’s efforts in this match probably doesn’t do him justice, but neither does any horseshit I can write so here we go:
1. Scored two tries.
2. Ran 56 metres – more than any other forward.
3. Beat 6 defenders – one less than game topping Jordan Petaia.
4. Won two turnovers.
5. Made 11 tackles – second behind Dillon Hunt for the Highlanders.
This was Frizell’s most complete performance yet for the Highlanders. The timing could not be better.
10. Something is happening in Australian rugby.
Let’s not kid ourselves: Australian rugby is still in all sorts when it comes to performance, but the Reds make up for their lack of game management with an exciting and brutal brand of rugby that will – if they refine and evolve – ensure they win their share of matches this year. They fell into the same trap as so many teams that visit Dunedin: confusing running rugby with winning rugby. That said, it probably doesn’t help that the Hegarty-Stewart dilemna still needs a resoluton, or that the average age of the team is a tick over 22. Regardless of results over the coming weeks, this team is one to get behind – and that renaissance, one feels, seems to be spreading across the lucky country.
Rugby World Cup City Guides – Kumamoto:
Comments on RugbyPass
Wasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 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 …
30 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
3 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!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 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 commentsBen 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.
30 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.
9 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.
30 Go to comments