Rugby: Intensity too much for Highlanders

Jamie Joseph
Jamie Joseph
A first up loss was not what Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph ordered, and he, and his team, have plenty of work to do before the Reds come to town on Friday.

The Highlanders will face the Australians knowing they must be better in many departments than was shown against the Crusaders in a 26-20 loss at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday night.

Joseph said the performance was no benchmark for how he wanted the season to unfold.

''I saw a lot of unforced errors and a lot of mistakes. In the first half we came under a lot of pressure. We played some rugby in the first five to 10 minutes and the next 30 minutes we were under pressure,'' Joseph said.

''We'd get some lineout ball, some clean ball, and then knock it on. The Crusaders capitalised on that and put us under a lot of pressure.

''I don't put that down to a lack of attitude. I put that down to an increase in intensity, which was a whole lot different than the pre season. We struggled to get out of our own half. There was a lot of endeavour there but a lot of pressure coming from them.

''What do we have to do better? We have to make sure we are clinical in those little things.''

After getting the bye last week, it was the Highlanders' first competitive game - and it showed.

''What summed it up for me was the desperation of the Crusaders against the first up game for the Highlanders. The difference for me, and it was only a small difference, was they wanted it a little bit more.''

Joseph said the Reds would be hungry but would be different opponents from the Crusaders, and the Highlanders would have to plan for that.

Highlanders second five eighth Shaun Treeby withdrew on Saturday when he did not recover from an injured knee he suffered on Thursday. He is expected to be available this Friday.

Two props - Kane Hames (Highlanders) and Owen Franks (Crusaders) - were cited after the game for alleged foul play.

The Highlanders opted to go for a penalty at the end of the game to get a bonus point rather than hunt for a try, a move fully supported by the coach.

''That one point could be vital in the end. In previous years we wouldn't have done that. We wouldn't have had the belief. So I think it was good that the leaders went for that and could trust us.''

Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder praised his side for its rapid improvement from last week when it lost to the Rebels. But he had some words of encouragement for the Highlanders team.

''Watching the Highlanders was just like where we were last week. The timing's not quite right, things do not come off. The Highlanders are a good team. Got a good strong forward pack and lightning backs,'' Blackadder said.

The Reds will head to Dunedin confident after an 18-6 win over the Force. In another all Australian game, the Waratahs beat the Rebels 38-28.

The Blues slumped to another loss, and had former Highlanders lock Hayden Triggs red carded in the 27-16 loss to the Stormers in Cape Town, but the Hurricanes were smiling for a second week in South Africa after they beat the Bulls 17-13.

In the final game of the round, the Sharks beat the Lions 29-12.

• Former Otago referee and medical student Ben O'Keefe officiated his first game at Super rugby level on Saturday night.

He was set to run the touch in the Highlanders Crusaders game but Chris Pollock pulled out on Saturday after injuring an ankle, and O'Keefe, now of Wellington, stepped up to do the job.

 

Add a Comment