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Highlanders captain Aaron Smith shoulders blame for winless start to season

(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Highlanders captain Aaron Smith has admitted that his own performances, as well as that of his halves partner and vice-captain Mitch Hunt, have contributed to their side’s winless start to Super Rugby Pacific.

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The Highlanders are yet to register a victory this season as they head into their round six clash against the Blues at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Saturday.

Consecutive defeats at the hands of the Chiefs, Crusaders, Hurricanes and Blues leaves the Highlanders with their worst start to a campaign since 2013, when they opened their season with eight straight losses.

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Over the course of their four matches this year, the southerners have scored just six tries, with only one of those scored by a back when wing Sam Gilbert crossed the chalk against the Crusaders in round two.

Figures like those illustrate the rut the Highlanders find themselves in at this stage of the season, and Smith has called on himself and Hunt to lift their games in a bid to notch the franchise’s maiden win of 2022.

“I think the honest truth around is we’re both not performing to the levels we hold our own standards to, so we can’t really put the blame on other players,” Smith ahead of his side’s clash with the Blues.

“A lot of it’s around our own execution of role. We’ve had a good look at ourselves, good connections. We get on really well, so we’ve had some good, honest convos with the coaches and with ourselves around how we can be better for our team.

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“With that opportunity, we’ve just got to perform and do what the team needs.

“We might have been stuck in the area of trying to make sure everyone knows what they’re doing and not doing what we do best, so we’re both probably going out there this weekend free of a lot of things and just trying to perform.

“For me, it’s just about trying to play my game, play at speed, and give Hunty the best ball he can, and then he can execute what he needs to. That’s definitely the mission around this weekend.”

Standing in their way this Saturday is a Blues team that dispatched the Highlanders with a 32-20 comeback victory after trailing 13-3 at half-time at North Harbour Stadium in Albany a fortnight ago.

In doing so, the Blues retained the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy for the third straight season, and they have since been bolstered for this week’s rematch by the return of key players such as Beauden Barrett and Tom Robinson.

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That presents a daunting challenge for the Highlanders, who are battling injury and Covid concerns of their own as they prepare for a rare sequence of back-to-back Super Rugby matches against the same opposition.

Nevertheless, Smith was optimistic about righting the wrongs from the match that was played two weeks ago in a match that will be played in front of a home crowd for the first time this season following New Zealand’s relaxation of Covid restrictions.

“Obviously we did it [executed their own game] for 40 against the Blues last time, but really excited about getting out there, simplifying my own game, and being the best version of myself first,” the veteran halfback said.

“As a combo, we [Smith and Hunt] know if we can play well, it puts the team in a good stead to play well as well.”

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Mick Cleary: 'Borthwick needs to have faith in Marcus Smith' Mick Cleary: 'Borthwick needs to have faith in Marcus Smith'
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