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Hurricanes, Blues and Highlanders lodge big wins in Super Rugby pre-season

The Highlanders have beaten the NSW Waratahs 55-29 in their pre-season Super Rugby match in Queenstown, whilst the Hurricanes and Blues have trounced the Crusaders and Chiefs in their New Zealand derbies.

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The Highlanders took a while to get into their match, with the Waratahs leading 10-7 after the first of three 30-minute intervals, before running away with the next 48 points.

Mid-fielder Rob Thompson bagged a hattrick in his first outing since re-signing with the Highlanders for three years, rewarded for backing up with great support running.

The surprise inclusion of All Black fullback Ben Smith lasted 40 minutes in a lively performance before being taken off the field. Young first five-eighth Josh Ioane also impressed in his first match at Super Rugby level.

Young pivot Josh Ioane impressed in his first outing at Super Rugby level.

In Greymouth the Hurricanes came away with a convincing 43-22 win over the Crusaders, the match all but over early in the second half as the Hurricanes held a 36-5 lead.

Younger brother of James Lowe, Jonah Lowe scored three tries before being replaced by Julian Savea, who scored one of his own shortly into the second half.

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None of the All Blacks from last year’s end of season tour were available for the match.

In Te Kuiti the Chiefs hosted the Blues where the visitors ran out 45-19 winners. The match was tied 14-all after the first interval before a host of changes saw the match turn in the Blues favour.

New Zealand under-20s first five-eighth Tiaan Falcon scored the first try for the Chiefs, before setting up their second by throwing a long cutout pass to Tim Nanai-Williams who strolled over.

Athletic teenage lock Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa scored two tries for a Blues side that scored five of their seven tries in the second half.

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The Chiefs were disjointed at times under new coach Colin Cooper and the Blues were the more cohesive unit despite both sides ringing in the personnel changes.

All sides involved will now begin preparations for next weekend’s Brisbane Tens before a final pre-season match.

Hurricanes 43 (Jonah Lowe 3, Ben Lam, Julian Savea, Finlay Christie, Vince Aso tries; Jackson Garden-Bachop 2 con, Ihaia West 2 con) beat Crusaders 22 (Billy Harmon, Jack Stratham, Tima Faingaanuku, Manasa Mataele tries; Brett Cameron con)

Blues 45 (Waimana Riedlinger-Kapa 2, TJ Faiane, Glenn Preston, Antonio Kiri Kiri, Marcel Renata, Dalton Papali’i tries; Bryn Gatland 2 con, Stephen Perofeta con, Daniel Kirkpatrick con, Jonathan Ruru con) Chiefs 19 (Tiaan Falcon, Tim Nanai-Williams, Samisoni Taukei’aho tries; Tiaan Falcon 2 con)

Highlanders 55 (Ron Thompson 3, Greg Pleasants-Tate, Jackson Hemopo, Josh Ioane, Fletcher Smith, Dillon Hunt, Tevita Nabura tries; Ioane 2 con; Smith 3 con) Waratahs 29 (Alex Newsome 2, Seb Wileman 2, Kelly Meafua tries; Mack Mason 2 cons)

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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
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