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Highlanders stun Cheetahs with epic comeback

Marty Banks

Highlanders scored three tries in the final five minutes to secure a remarkable 45-41 comeback victory against a stunned Cheetahs in Super Rugby on Friday.

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The New Zealanders were trailing 41-24 in the closing stages in Bloemfontein, but after Uzair Cassiem went into the sin-bin for Cheetahs, tries from Tevita Li, Matt Feddes and Waisake Naholo completed the epic turnaround.

It was a sixth straight win for Highlanders, marking their best run since 2005.

Things did start well for the hosts, though, as Tian Meyer collected Sergeal Petersen’s excellent inside pass from the right wing to race clear and score.

Highlanders soon hit back after good work at the breakdown led to Marty Banks hitting a gap from close range to touch down.

Feddes’ yellow card for a late hit six minutes before the break proved costly, though, as Petersen and Torsten van Jaarsveld crossed the whitewash either side of half-time during his absence.

Highlanders hit back and led through quickfire scores from Rob Thompson and Naholo.

But Cheetahs were rewarded for their fine play as first Oupa Mohoje scored, before Meyer showed great hands to scoop up Raymond Rhule’s chip one-handed to bag a second try.

Prop Ox Nche finished off a fine team move on the left to further extend Cheetahs’ lead and seemingly leave Highlanders out of contention.

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Cassiem’s yellow set up a scarcely believable finish, though, as Li scored after relentless pressure, before Feddes raced free almost immediately from the kick-off.

Cheetahs defended resolutely as the clock wound down, but with the final play the ball was recycled to powerhouse Naholo, who bundled over the line to spark jubilant scenes from the visitors.

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Nickers 15 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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