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
Good 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 commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
19 Go to comments