The half-time talk that propelled the Highlanders to their record-breaking win over the Waratahs
Highlanders head coach Clarke Dermody has revealed that a half-time talk from one of his assistant coaches helped propel his side to their record-breaking win over the Waratahs in Dunedin on Saturday.
The Highlanders thumped the New South Welshmen 59-23 in their Super Rugby Trans-Tasman clash at Forsyth Barr Stadium, a result that lifted the southerners to second on the competition standings with just one round left to play.
Provided they defeat the Brumbies next week and maintain a better points difference than the Crusaders, a place in the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman final on June 19 looks a very realistic prospect.
That much has been made possible partly due to the words of defence coach Shane Christie, who helped ensure that the Highlanders kept the Waratahs scoreless throughout the entire second half.
Running in nine tries to two, the Highlanders scored their most-ever points in a fixture against the Waratahs, but Dermody told reporters after the match that it was his team’s defence in the second half that was the best aspect of the result.
“I think the most pleasing thing was the second half, being able to hold them try-less in that second half,” he said.
“I think you’ve seen all year the Waratahs have been throwing the ball around and scoring a lot of points in games, so at half-time it was turning that way again, so to be able to stop that and to be able to get away with them was probably the most pleasing thing.”
Dermody credits Christie for the Highlanders’ stern defensive effort after they leaked two tries in the opening 20 minutes.
“Shane had a good word with the boys at half-time and there was a message around [about] desire, knowing that last week they didn’t kick the ball a lot in the second half and we were going to have to work really hard, so it was pleasing to see.
“That sort of stuff just shows the culture we’ve got at the moment. The boys are working really hard for each other, so pleased with the way they did.”
The franchise’s hopes of securing their first title since 2015 received a significant boost when the Brumbies stunned the Hurricanes, who previously occupied second place on the table, in Canberra just hours after the Highlanders’ victory.
The 12-10 win handed the Brumbies their first victory over Kiwi opposition this year, and Dermody is aware of the threat they will pose when the Highlanders play them at GIO Stadium next Friday.
Here’s how the Highlanders rated after they ran in nine tries to dominantly dismantle the Waratahs 59-23 in Dunedin on Friday. #SuperRugbyTT #HIGvWAR https://t.co/L8mgCIurBM
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 5, 2021
“They’ll be coming off a big one tonight as well, so it’ll be a test. We’ve had some tough games over there in the past. I remember last year we managed to roll up on them right at the end of the game,” he said.
“This time of the year, it’s not going to be a fun game. It’ll be pretty forward-orientated I’d say, so it’s going to be a big, physical challenge.”
Asked what he makes of his side’s final chances in a congested top half of the table where all five New Zealand franchises are likely to be in the running for a place in the top two, Dermody said all the Highlanders can do only focus on winning their next match.
“All we can do now is keep trying to give ourselves that chance. We still need a bit of help from other teams, but it’s not something we’ve talked about as a team.
“We’re just trying to win every game, putting ourselves in positions where we can get those bonus points, and it’s pleasing to get it this time and not let it slip like the previous couple of weeks.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The 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?
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 comments