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Highlanders prove too good for Force to clinch third win on the bounce

(Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

The Western Force’s Super Rugby Pacific season is in tatters after a 61-10 humbling at the hands of the Highlanders.

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They copped an early barrage and were down 28-5 within 23 minutes after conceding four tries in Dunedin on Friday night, uncompetitive against a ferocious home team looking to boost their playoffs ambitions.

The loss leaves the Force eight points outside the top eight with three games left, and they look very long odds to close that gap with their fixtures including the Chiefs and Hurricanes.

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Aotearoa Rugby Pod | Episode 13

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    Aotearoa Rugby Pod | Episode 13

    Force captain Kyle Godwin acknowledged it had been a rough night, with his side conceding nine tries, eight of them converted by impressive new five eighth Sam Gilbert.

    “We were our own worst enemies there unfortunately,” Godwin told Stan Sports.

    “We were very much chasing the game from the start … they were on and just had a great start to that game.

    “The physicality, the breakdown area, we were really poor in that area tonight, the Highlanders had a flurry of quick ball.”

    It again highlighted the gulf between the Force and the competition’s elite, falling to 0-3 against New Zealand-based sides this campaign, while it was a third-straight win for the Highlanders as they continue a late-season charge.

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    Hooker Andrew Makalio struck first inside two minutes but the blowout really began to loom when big No.8 Marino Mikaele-Tu’u made it two tries in five minutes by capping a sweeping team move.

    Former All Black lock Jeremy Thursh pulled one try back for the Force but they quickly copped another pair, with the dominant Mikaele-Tu’u doubling up by peeling off a scrum on 22 minutes.

    Makalio had his double quickly after halftime, his barging effort so powerful it sent Force centre Bayley Kuenzle to the bench with a head knock.

    The early try seemed to break the Force’s spirit and the points piled up as Rhys Marshall and Folau Fakatava crossed for the Highlanders, and matters only got worse when Richard Kahui was sent off for a high shot.

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    The Highlanders wouldn’t let up, finding two tries in the final few minutes to complete the  mauling.

    Mikaele-Tu’u produced a magical display with 45 run metres to go with his two tries, while centre Thomas Umaga-Jensen (45m) and Fetuli Paea (60m) were also influential.

    The Highlanders remain eighth on the table and close the regular season facing the NSW Waratahs and Melbourne Rebels.

    Highlanders captain Aaron Smith said it was a big result as they look to make an impact in the playoffs.

    “It’s an outstanding result for us, great to be back at home, we had a good couple of weeks away,” he told Stan Sports.

    “To put a performance like that out there, one we’ve probably been searching for all year (was great).

    “You could see the energy … really proud of our effort, a full 23-man squad, to finish like that is pretty special.”

    “We’ll take the win, they don’t come easy in this comp … we’re just trying to build our game for the playoffs.”

    Highlanders 61 (Tries to Andrew Makalio (2), Marino Mikaele-Tu’u (2), Scott Gregory, Rhys Marshall, Folau Fakatava (2) and Billy Harmon; 8 conversions to Sam Gilbert)

    Force 10 (Tries to Jeremy Thrush and Andrew Ready)

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    J
    JW 3 hours ago
    'He wants players to be able to play four positions': Former All Black critiques Robertson's strategy

    I have the selection opinion of ‘chuck them in the deep end, see if they swim’. Starting Mo’unga in the third test

    But you’re calling favoritism of Dmac based on common practice, thats the illogical mindset you have and which I’m pointing out.

    He isn’t Mo’unga which disproves your statement

    You’ve missed my point. Mo’unga is your fixation for ‘game manager’. Dmac is every bit the game manager even then, his boot has always been his best asset.

    At 10 I would’ve had: Cruden, B Barrett, and McKenzie

    Thats fine, but that statement you’re trying to defend is “I guess Hansen sold them the idea that McKenzie was the way forward at 10” with the implication that now, in 2023 they let Mo’unga go because Dmac he was selected there for one test in 2018.

    I brought it up as I it shows that Hansen and Foster would rather have a second 10

    I brought those facts up to as I believe that both Hansen and Foster didn’t really want Mo’unga at 10 and only used him at 10 when they ran out of other ideas (which they both did)

    And I have shown you the real facts, that they didn’t do that. They played MO’UNGA! The very next series after Dmac was asked to play 10 due to injury, with no experience (hence why he wanted more the next year), Mo’unga was used as the alternative 10 to Barrett, playing one game, WITH MCKENZIE AT 15, of the 6 Rugby Championships. The series after that was were opinion really shifted to Mo’unga having a better partnership with Dmac at the back than Barrett did.


    THOSE ARE THE ONLY RELEVANT FACTS!


    You can have your theories all you like Spew, but I’m telling you they are based on you own fallacy when it comes your picture of Dmac, and therefor any correlation with Mo’unga. They have always been great together.

    110 Go to comments
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    WilmaKiel 5 hours ago
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