Highlanders quash my pessimistic demons

Paul McDonald
Paul McDonald
It's been four months since Richie McCaw lifted the Webb Ellis Cup above his head. Four long, rugby free months...until now. The 2012 Super Rugby season has now begun and with an extended competition this year (concluding in August!), it has all the makings of something truly spectacular.

Although the competition officially started with the Crusaders taking on the Blues in Auckland (concluding in a nail biter), for those whose heart belongs south of the Waitaki River, the real action began on a beautiful Saturday evening in Hamilton as Jamie Joseph's Highlanders took on a new look Chiefs side.

As a Highlanders fan, the build up to this season opener has had its definite highlights and lowlights. The highlights being our new signings in Hosea Gear, Andrew Hore, Tamati Ellison and Englishman James Haskell, it had all the promises of a great season, one we can finally look forward to with some real hope (come on, let's be completely honest), this was until the three pre-season matches. These matches are usually pretty scrappy and you can't really judge a team's performance properly on them. But with losses to the Crusaders, Chiefs and Blues, it did make me sigh a tad.

Was this going to just be another season where we ask the question, what if? Thankfully my pessimistic demons were thoroughly quashed after what turned out to be an incredibly close encounter, with the Highlanders taking the spoils in the finish.

The first half started reasonably well with Chris Noakes knocking over a penalty within the first minute. Our forwards looking promising with some fantastic work with their pick and go, but this was spoiled with some poor discipline and some silly mistakes off the back of the ruck. (I won't name names... you know who you are.) These are mistakes you can't make against a backline that will punish you severely. The Chiefs ran a try to Leila Masaga and three penalties, with Chris Noakes adding two more penalties to make it 16-9 to the Chiefs at the break.

The second half started very much the same way, not for long though. The Chiefs sustained three substantial injuries early in the second spell, with the injection of halfback Aaron Smith and Jason ‘Cabbage' Rutledge and of course the brilliance of new-comer Tamati Ellison, the Highlanders pounced on a weakened Chiefs side and produced a stunning comeback with tries to Smith and second-five Phil Burleigh.

Unfortunately we sustained a couple of injuries as well, notably to five-eighth Chris Noakes and prop Chris King (time to lace up the boots again, Kees?) With two weakened forward packs, the call was made for uncontested scrums, not the most appealing of scrums, especially considering we were destroying the Chiefs in this area. With time ticking away on the clock and only four points in it, the Chiefs were looking threatening and almost looked to clinch the victory. Resolute defence prevailed, the Highlanders held firm to their lead and started the season off with a bang, final score 23-19 to the southerners.

A great start to the season, some things to work on and some things to hold our head high about. Will it continue? Guess we will have to wait until next week at our new home, against our southern counterparts, the Crusaders. Until next time....

Paul McDonald - I'm a 21 year old Media and Communications student at the University of Canterbury. Born and raised in Christchurch, but when I first started following rugby I couldn't stand the way the Crusaders played. So when I was taken to Carisbrook as a nine year old I fell in love with the atmosphere down south and the Highlanders style of play. I have remained a loyal and dedicated fan despite living amongst the enemy. Becoming a sports reporter has been my dream since I started following rugby and I hope to make it a full time career.

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