Rugby: Highlanders' loss down to a few critical moments: Moore

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By Steve Hepburn on Sat, 20 Feb 2010
Rugby

Coach Glenn Moore believes the Highlanders have the ability to win but it comes down to a few critical moments during the 80 minutes of play which are not going their way.

Moore pointed to a charged-down kick which led directly to a Blues try and several bad kick-offs which, in the end, were crucial.

"When we got past four phases we were looking dangerous but there were critical moments in the match which cost us," Moore said.

"They counter-rucked us a couple of times and that really hurt us and then there were a couple of kick-offs which allowed them back into the game straight after we scored."

Missed penalty kicks also hurt the side.

Michael Hobbs missed two reasonably straightforward penalties which would have given the side momentum at vital stages.

Moore was pleased with the Highlanders' set-piece play and the defence when lock Josh Bekhuis was yellow-carded.

But he said the side did not get enough continuity into its game.

The Highlanders, who picked up a bonus point, now head to South Africa for a three-match tour.

"We have got to go over there with a positive mind-set and we know there is something there.

"It's about going over there, regrouping, doing the right things during the week and putting on a good performance."

The 26 players to go to South Africa will be decided today, with the squad due to leave tomorrow.

Two players will be left behind.

Captain Jimmy Cowan suffered another blow to his face but Moore said he should be all right to go to Africa.

There were no other major injury concerns.

Blues captain Keven Mealamu said the match was a torrid encounter which he expected.

There was a feeling of relief the Blues had their first win but the game could have gone either way, he said.

Highlanders v Blues
The scores

Blues 19
- Paul Williams 2, Rene Ranger tries, Stephen Brett 2 conversions.

Highlanders 15
- Israel Dagg, Michael Hobbs tries, Hobbs conversion, Dagg penalty goal.

Half-time: Highlanders 12-7.
Crowd: 7000.

 

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Stadium and health

Submitted by pukeko on Fri, 12/03/2010 - 6:55pm.

A healthy lifestyle doesn't necessarily guarantee never getting cancer etc. Like everyone has the chance to afford enough insurance, after paying for stadiums. Heathcare is is what taxes are for, not stupid, totally unnecessary stadiums, no matter how you try to justify it, and label people who are angered by blatant misuse of tax monies as whinging. But this attitude comes as no surprise. All nothing to do with the nanny state, which I do agree is such, but in the terms of law and order. Pity there isn't enough of corruption of the state, which the stadium process is a model of.

[Abridged]

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No way

Submitted by funkie01 on Sat, 27/02/2010 - 3:22pm.

The answer to healthcare is simple, live a healthy life, eat right and exercise and make sure you can afford to have insurance or do not whinge if you need to line up. Enough of the Nanny state, time for personal responsibility.

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re: Winning and losing

Submitted by pukeko on Tue, 23/02/2010 - 10:38pm.

Ohhh, tsk tsk. You can’t say that. It’s a matter of life and death to win a rugby game. More hinges on winning a game than a battle in a war, you know. Well, you only need to hear some people gassing on about the ‘tactics’ weeks after to note that, and even going into a state of depression if we lose a game, getting violent even towards partners.

Indeed it’s a death situation when another cathedral with a roof on it for it is being built at hundreds of millions and the government chucks $15 million at it. All the while people under threat of cancer can’t get essential checks done like a colonoscopy. Our health board is struggling but do they get any more money – the place where tax is supposed to go? No.

Now there's a suggestion we pay for treatment there to jump the queue (if you can afford it), after paying via tax and rates for a sodding stadium. No.

But that’s of course got sod all to do with it when you have people biting their nails to watch 40 overrated macho’s running about chasing a ball under a roof. The rest of the city - essentials or potential enhancements alike - can go goodbyes, as they apparently pale in significance to this icon of mediocrity and the game it’s being mostly built for.

So you see, technically, rugby is apparently even more a god than human life, and sacrifices must be made all elsewhere in it’s name and for its boorish fans. The mind boggles.

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winning and losing

Submitted by digger on Mon, 22/02/2010 - 9:50am.

Never mind. It's only a game. It's not the end of the world.

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Of course it's the same old same old

Submitted by Fungus Pudding on Sun, 21/02/2010 - 9:15pm.

It could hardly be a different same old.

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same old, same old

Submitted by mikenette on Sat, 20/02/2010 - 4:41pm.

Funkie...you are on the money precisely.

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Sorry, same old story Glenn

Submitted by funkie01 on Sat, 20/02/2010 - 9:46am.

I respect Glenn as a technical skills coach but would like a dollar for each time the above headline appears under his reign. The players only play to strategy given by management. It is flawed and has been flawed for the past 2 years. We have a young team with flair yet we attempt to play a conservative "test match" barge and bash sytle pattern with little width or imagination. I make comparisions with the Queensland Reds who are probably more inexperienced but are prepared to give it a go. I would rather our team go down attractively than Ben Smith hardly touching the ball and we lose by 1 point. Coaching is about installing an individual's confidence not about setting rigid team patterns. Glenn, it hasn't worked so please loosen up and let them have a crack. Maybe the new Otago coach from Australia can help us in this area.

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