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Opinionated Rugby Commentary - by Fans for Fans
Spill what you really think about events in the rugby world.
How About Those Highlanders? 13 views
06 March 2011 by The Swede Eaters
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The Highlanders are unbeaten after three rounds. What do you put their change in results down to?
The Highlanders stunned the Super Rugby world with a 35-28 win over the Bulls in Pretoria. It is the first time the Bulls have lost at Loftus Versfeld in years and it was by the lowly Highlanders who outpassioned the hosts and deserved their 35-28 win. The Highlanders looked smart in their maroon Southland Stags coloured tops and played a style very similar with aggression in the forwards especially at the breakdown. The Highlanders missed only a handful of tackles all match and the game only looked in doubt when Alando Soakai got sinbinned in the last ten minutes.
As usual, I don't rate Stuart Dickinson. He got under the skin of the Bulls and fortunately for the Highlanders in the desperate last play of the game he actually missed a lazy Jamie McIntosh hand which forced Fourie Du Preez to drop the ball. We will take this win though!
Some interesting points to note
The Highlanders actually have a good record against the Bulls and have now beat them nine times and lost six times.
36 year old veteran Tony Brown secured his 100th Super Rugby cap. The South Otago man has played a majority of his games for the Highlanders, but also represented the Sharks and Stormers.
Jamie Joseph has already exceeded expectations as the new coach. His style really suits the southern men. I must admit, I am surprised that the results have come so quickly, but in previous seasons, the Highlanders have lost narrowly so often.
Wing Kade Poki who scored two tries and looks electric typifies this Highlanders team. He was surplus to requirements for the Crusaders and ended up only be called into the Highlanders when Kurt Baker pulled out.
The Highlanders region is by far the smallest in the competition so have had to call in plenty of help from outside the region. The tight five has a real Southland Stags look to it, while the loose forwards combine Otago's Soakai and Thomson with explosive Cantab Nasi Manu.
I remember when Southland had no one in the Highlanders, but against the Bulls they had three starting backs and four starting forwards, not to mention the others in the squad. It is ironic given the smaller franchise partner are now the bigger brothers given that Otago had only three players in the starting lineup. I guess the strong Southland performances in the ITM Cup have plenty to do with this.
The starting halves are Southland men, while with the exception of Kenny Lynn (Southland) and Ben Smith (Otago), the outside backs represent Wellington, Tasman and Counties.
That pretty much sums up what the Highlanders have to do, mix the southern grunt and grafters combined with some flair from up north.
I haven't picked the Highlanders to win all season and they continue to win, so I wonder if I should change old habits? If I did, I would have got some rather handsome odds!
What do you think is the reason for the Highlanders winning their first three games? I realise that they have a long season ahead of them and their depth will be tested, but what do you think is the difference between this season and other seasons?
Highlanders 35 (Kade Poki 2, Adam Thomson, Josh Bekhuis tries; Tony Brown 3con, pen, Robbie Robinson 2pen)
Bulls 28 (Flip van der Merwe, Fourie du Preez, Bjorn Basson tries; Morne Steyn 2con, 3pen)
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