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‘Our own worst enemy’: Why Highlanders star took defeats ‘personally’

(Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

Highlanders playmaker Mitch Hunt has opened up about how he felt after being dropped for Freddie Burns, and why a return to fullback lifted a “weight off the shoulders.”

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For a majority of this year’s Super Rugby Pacific season, Hunt was tasked with leading the Highlanders’ attack around the park.

Injuries to former England pivot Freddie Burns and cult hero Marty Banks saw Hunt emerge as the clear first-choice flyhalf for the proud franchise from the deep south.

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Rising star Cameron Millar was another option for the Highlanders this season, and the Otago flyhalf made some promising cameos off the bench in Burns’ absence.

Hunt started seven of the Highlanders first eight matches in the No. 10 jersey, with his one appearance off the bench coming against south island rivals the Crusaders in Super Round.

But the results weren’t there. The Landers had lost four of their matches with Hunt at the playmaking helm, which included defeats to the Western Force and Waratahs.

Eventually, something had to change.

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Speaking with RugbyPass in the leadup to what ended up being the Highlanders’ final match of the season against the Blues last Friday, Hunt said he took those defeats “personally.”

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“From our group, we’ve been out own worst enemies through the year,” Hunt said.

“We’ve had a couple of performances, obviously at the start they were blowout performances. Through the middle we’ve been a little bit disappointed in our group’s performance in general.

“We’ve been our own worst enemy in a lot of things, small moments or errors compounding or errors against us have been really our killer for the large majority.

“That’s probably what’s hurt the most when some of the Kiwi teams when we did face (them), we actually played really well.

“It obviously hurts as a 10, you sort of get looked to first and is it our fault for not controlling (the game), poor kicking or decision making?

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“You always look to yourself first and personally I have high standards of myself and you do take those losses hard or personally.

“Maybe that’s my personality but you do take it, you do take it hard.

“But as a team in general we probably haven’t quite fulfilled our potential as well.”

With their season on the line, Highlanders coach Clarke Dermody decided to go in another direction with Freddie Burns returning from a lengthy stint on the sidelines.

Hunt was relegated to the bench for the Landers’ clash with the ladder-leading Chiefs in Hamilton, and retained his spot in the No. 22 jumper the following week.

The 27-year-old only played five minutes during the tough 48-32 loss to the Brumbies at Canberra’ GIO Stadium, and was back on the bench the following week against the Rebels.

But Hunt returned to the run-on side to play the Reds.

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Running out at fullback for the first time this season, Hunt was able to play with more “freedom” and time during the thrilling win at Forsyth Barr Stadium – lifting “weight off the shoulders” for the utility back.

“From the coaches point (of view), potentially just wanted to try something else with Fred, get him in and see if that changed,” he added.

“We struggled the last couple of weeks before that and I guess adding me to the group potentially just chucks that other playmaker element on with Fred as well.

“Someone that understands the game and the gameplan, and can potentially go and help.

“I guess at fullback I’m not the most x-factor guy who’s going to be out there at fullback, but I believe I’ve got a pretty good game IQ so I guess my injection was trying to be that second pair of eyes for Fred.

“I don’t mind getting out to fullback, it takes a little bit of weight off the shoulders sometimes as that direct game driver. You feel like you have that little bit of freedom.”

Earlier this year, the Highlanders turned some heads when they announced that they’d signed Leicester Tigers pivot Freddie Burns for the 2023 season.

But, in the words of Mitch Hunt, the Highlanders “had to look for someone.”

“I understand the decision from the club’s perspective to have someone with experience come in and help the club.

“It’s been good having him, I’ve actually learned a lot off him.

“I don’t think it was confidence damaging, it was probably necessary to happen. The way it’s gone, it is what it’s been.”

The Highlanders’ season came to a tough end last weekend following a bonus point loss to the Blues in Auckland.

Needing three other results to go their way, the Fijian Drua ended up breaking the hearts of Highlanders’ supporters with a convincing win over the Reds.

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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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