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Why the Highlanders won't 'get too disheartened' after another big loss

(Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

The Highlanders have started their Super Rugby Pacific campaign with two emphatic losses, but they aren’t “going to get too disheartened” as they look to bounce back.

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After losing by 40-points to a talented Blues outfit at Forsyth Barr Stadium last Saturday, the Highlanders prepared to face South Island rivals the Crusaders in Super Round.

While fullback Sam Gilbert was able to kick the ‘Landers’ into an early 3-nil lead, that’s about as good as it got for the team from the far south.

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Defending Super Rugby champions the Crusaders, who were without coach Scott Robertson, ran riot with the ball-in-hand.

Playmaker Richie Mo’unga was back to his best on Friday evening, as the Crusaders avenged their own round one loss with a 52-15 win.

The Highlanders have started their season with two significant losses, which captain Billy Harmon said was “a bit of a bummer.”

“The score is a bit of a bummer but like in that Blues game, there’s a lot of awesome stuff to take out and I think this week will be the same,” Harmon told reporters.

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“We just didn’t quite have the accuracy at the lineout and our exits.

“We did some awesome stuff within our phase defence and our phase attack that really challenge them.”

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The Highlanders are currently last on the Super Rugby Pacific standings, although they’re only one of four teams to have played their round two fixture.

But looking through their schedule, it doesn’t get much easier for the Dunedin-based team next Friday.

After a disappointing performance in Super Round, the Highlanders will play the Chiefs in round three – the team who not only defeated the Crusaders last weekend, but taught them a lesson.

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But the Highlanders are just focusing on what they can do to get better and “keep growing.”

“It’s only round two, we’re not going to get too disheartened,” Harmon added.

“We just still want to keep growing, keep (getting) better. The funny thing is I felt like we did get better in our attack and our D.

“Obviously with that scoreline we weren’t quite accurate and a team like the Crusaders, they can pounce on any opportunity and turn that into points.”

In the second match of Super Round, the Hurricanes recorded their second win of the season but it didn’t come easy.

Captain Ardie Savea made unwanted headlines after a controversial gesture towards a Melbourne Rebels player, which somewhat soured the thrilling 33-39 win.

Up next in Super Round on Saturday, Moana Pasifika will look to upset the Chiefs, while Fijian Drua will be eager to make a statement against the Waratahs.

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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
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