'There's no easy games': Highlanders wary of Reds amid recent Australian success
They may have registered only their second win of the Super Rugby Pacific season, but the Highlanders haven’t got too carried away with themselves just yet.
In the midst of a dire campaign, the Dunedin-based franchise achieved a rare victory last weekend when they beat the Fijian Drua 27-24 in front of a packed and boisterous crowd at ANZ National Stadium in Suva.
Now their attention has turned to the final leg of their overseas tour as they return to Australia two weeks after becoming the first New Zealand side fall short against a team from the other side of the Tasman.
In the fortnight since their Super Round defeat to the Brumbies, the Australian teams have collectively picked up two further scalps over Kiwi sides as the Waratahs stunned the Crusaders and the Brumbies toppled the Hurricanes last weekend.
Elsewhere in the latest round of action, the Melbourne Rebels also overcame a staunch effort from Moana Pasifika, while the Western Force and Queensland Reds both finished within a score of the Blues and Chiefs in their respective matches on Friday.
The recent success and competitiveness of Australia’s franchises has breathed new life into Super Rugby Pacific as they have comfortably surpassed the pre-season expectations placed on them by fans and media alike.
The Highlanders, however, are fully aware of the threat their Australian counterparts pose, especially that of the Reds, who they face at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane on Friday.
Coached by former Highlanders lock Brad Thorn, the fifth-placed Queenslanders stand as one of the two best Australian teams – alongside the Brumbies – and have come close twice to beating Kiwi opposition this season.
After surrendering a 17-0 lead against the Hurricanes to lose 30-17 in Melbourne two weeks ago, the Reds followed that up with a 27-25 home loss to the Chiefs.
In both matches, they showed their ability to foot it with New Zealand sides and enhanced the perception that Australian rugby has improved in leaps and bounds since last year’s ill-fated Super Rugby Trans-Tasman series.
As such, Highlanders first-five Mitch Hunt told media on Monday that his side – currently languishing in 10th place and two points astray from a playoffs spot – cannot afford to take the Reds, or any other Australian team, lightly.
“There’s no easy games, despite what everyone else outside the environment seems to think or portray,” Hunt said.
“There’s just no easy games. We’ve seen the Drua push the Kiwi sides already, the Brumbies have had two wins, and now the Waratahs getting a win over the Crusaders, [who are] perceived as one of the best in the comp, so if we’re off by a little about, these guys are going to take advantage of that.
“Obviously Australia want to prove something playing the Kiwi sides, prove that they can hold their own, and, if not, beat us, as they’ve already shown on the last couple occasions.
“We’re under no illusion that these games are easy and we’re going to roll over any of these teams, so our preparation has been at the highest level and, as we head into this week, that won’t be any different as well.”
Those comments were reinforced by Highlanders assistant coach Riki Flutey, who pinpointed the kicking game and set piece of the Brumbies and Reds as two examples of how the Australian outfits have improved over the past year.
“Looking at the Reds, Brumbies as well, their set piece is pretty dominant, as you guys would know as well. The kicking game, they’ve got an awesome kicking game. They vary their kicking game up a lot, so just those couple of things,” he said.
The set piece battle is of particular interest for veteran Highlanders prop Josh Hohneck, who echoed Flutey’s sentiments about the threat the Reds pose at scrum time.
The Reds engaged frequently with the Chiefs at the set piece, and although they were outdone by Clayton McMillan’s men, Hohneck said Thorn’s side have made the scrum a big part of their playing identity.
“They’ve got a pretty powerful set piece, so it’s been a big part of their game,” Hohneck said of the Reds, who will be without star prop Taniela Tupou due to a potentially season-ending calf injury.
“Coming up against the Kiwi teams, we scrum maybe a little bit different, so there’s always going to be a little bit of a teething period there. Be interesting to see over the next couple of weeks how it all works out.”
In saying that, Hohneck made note that the set piece is also a strength for the Highlanders, which he said came to the fore in Saturday’s win over the Drua.
“I think scrums change within games, so you can go in with a plan and it doesn’t always work out,” he said.
“I think, on the weekend, we scrummed for long periods but two big packs were sort of locked out and the crowd got into it, but we’re sort of happy with the way the scrum came through.
“I think we pulled a penalty out at one stage that led to a try, and the rest of the scrums were pretty solid. The Reds probably try to be a little bit destructive early in the scrums, so we’ve just got to weather that storm and stay in it.”
Do that, and the Highlanders could well score a rare win in Brisbane – they have won only three out of 11 matches there since the beginning of Super Rugby – and keep their quarter-final hopes alive.
“We know if we win the next four games, we’ve got an opportunity to be in the playoffs,” Flutey said.
“We’re going to take lots of confidence out of the result and the performance, in terms of the boys sticking to the plan right through to the 80th minute from the Drua game. That confidence will hopefully take us into the Reds game.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
1 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
24 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
6 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to comments