Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Highlanders fight off Moana Pasifika to clinch first win of season

(Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)

After seven long games, the Highlanders are finally on the board in Super Rugby Pacific.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Dunedin-based franchise snapped their winless start to the season by defeating Moana Pasifika 37-17 at Forsyth Barr Stadium in a result that lifts them off the bottom of the table.

It wasn’t a pretty performance, one that was stop-start in fashion and dominated by close-quarters forward play despite the promising start it got off to when the Highlanders ventured into enemy territory following numerous Moana Pasifika penalties.

Video Spacer

Dan Carter reveals the key to success for All Blacks at next year’s World Cup | Aotearoa Rugby Pod

Video Spacer

Dan Carter reveals the key to success for All Blacks at next year’s World Cup | Aotearoa Rugby Pod

That laid the platform for the home side’s forward pack to roll up their sleeves and give Mitch Hunt ample amounts of room to work his playmaking magic and send rookie wing Mosese Dawai over for his first-ever Super Rugby try.

Dawai crossed again for a well-taken brace near the end of the half after the Highlanders followed largely the same recipe of forward play via a rolling maul, leading to a Hunt try assist.

Both tries were as much good reward, considering they were the more dominant side throughout the opening stanza, as they were consolation for the loss of Shannon Frizell and Manaaki Selby-Rickit to match-ending injuries.

Given their high squad status and good form, those injuries will be of major concern for Highlanders head coach Tony Brown, as will the manner in which Moana Pasifika were able to score their only try of the first half.

ADVERTISEMENT

Not long after first-five Christian Leali’ifano landed a penalty, a shanked cross-field kick by Hunt well inside his own half yielded a passage of determined attack by the visitors, who capitalised on the chance afforded to them by scoring through Levi Aumua.

Moana Pasifika, down a man after Veikoso Poloniati was sin binned for foul play late in the first half did well to withstand a barrage of pressure early in the second half when a series of rolling mauls should have put Brown’s side into a bigger lead than what they already had.

That seemed to be the theme of the second half for the Highlanders, and were it not for some stout defence by Moana Pasifika, and silly errors on their own part, they would have executed far earlier than they did.

The did eventually, though, when their compounding pressure proved insurmountable when reserve hooker Rhys Marshall finally converted from close range.

ADVERTISEMENT

However, only moments later, a barnstorming attack by Moana Pasifika from a Scott Gregory spillage saw Tima Fainga’anuku soar over in the right-hand corner, despite the shoulder-charging efforts of Dawai, just after the restart.

That was as good as it got for the new expansion franchise, who sustained another yellow card when Alamanda Motuga was sin binned, leading to further tries to Marshall and reserve halfback Folau Fakatava late in the piece.

The win elevates the Highlanders into ninth place on the competition standings, two points astray from the final play-offs spot, currently occupied by the Hurricanes, with both teams to play each other in Dunedin next Saturday.

Moana Pasifika, meanwhile, fill the void left by the Highlanders at the bottom of the table ahead of next Saturday’s clash with the Chiefs in Auckland.

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

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 The joy, spirit and obstacles of the rugby pilgrim The joy, spirit and obstacles of the rugby pilgrim
Search