Rugby: Key points - Highlanders v Force

Dan Pryor of the Highlanders is caught by the Force defence. Photo Getty
Dan Pryor of the Highlanders is caught by the Force defence. Photo Getty

ODT Online rugby writer Jeff Cheshire identifies five key points from the Highlanders v Force game at the weekend.

Tight five outstanding

The most overlooked area of this Highlanders team this year has been their tight five. Everyone is quick to praise the backs, or the strong loose forwards, but the tight forwards seem to have flown way under the radar, particularly outside of the Highlanders fan base. This week saw them show just how good they are. Against the Cheetahs they were outstanding too, although the long-range eye-catching tries tended to get the most attention. In this game, moments such as those were few and far between. It was a tighter contest and one in which the Highlanders tight five were outstanding.

They were forced to tackle and tackle in the first half, but never relented. In support play they were mobile and hit rucks with accuracy and power. The work rate was fantastic from all of them, with Brendon Edmonds in particular standing out in yet another impressive performance from the young prop. It was this intensity that was key in keeping the Force from developing too much go-forward, which made it hard for them to create gaps in a strong defensive line.

Backs well contained

It was not for a lack of effort that the backline were not able to make too many inroads. The Force defended well, particularly throughout the first half where they held the Highlanders try-less. They looked to move the ball wide from all over the park, with Lima Sopoaga showing great confidence in the men outside him. But the Force scrambled well, closing down the space Malakai Fekitoa and Patrick Osborne had to work with, while doing well to cover Waisake Naholo on his breaks. The handling was not flash and they were not particularly clinical, although they were perhaps tired after three weeks on the road. What was most important was that they defended strongly and scrambled well when they needed to, which enabled them to stop the Force applying too much pressure of their own.

Intelligent maul defence

For the second week in a row we saw the Highlanders employ an intelligent defence to stop the rolling maul from the lineout. Or perhaps stop is the wrong word, as the forwards stood back and did not commit to it, meaning a maul was never formed. This creates a general play situation and the defence is able to come around the back and attack the ball carrier, as there is no offside line. It is a tactic that is not used regularly, but with the increasing usage of mauls in recent times, it may become something we see used more widely, at least amongst those with an appreciation for the laws of the game. If you struggle stopping the maul, as most teams do when it is done right, surely the best option is to not even let the opposition start one. Let them set up, but do not commit and then come around and take the man with the ball.

The brilliance of Ben Smith

It is hard to think of a better player in Super Rugby over the past three years than Ben Smith. The man is simply brilliant and has reached a level of consistency which sees him very rarely not have a good game. Since debuting in 2009 he has developed his game, honing what was already a pretty good skill-set into one which is virtually flawless. He can influence a game in so many ways. His speed and ability to see and go through gaps in the defence is what stands out the most, but he is far from a one-trick pony. This week we saw him employ an outstanding kicking game, finding space in behind and creating pressure on the Force. He can pass well too set others up, while remaining rock-solid on defence, both in cover and in the line. His technique under the high ball has improved considerably, progressing from a player who tended to run in hard, to one who still does this, but keeps his eyes on the ball and hands high. You rarely see him drop one these days.

In 2013 he was so good that the All Blacks had to pick him, even at a time where they were reluctant to deviate from their tried and true. He fitted in on the wing and was sublime, playing in a similar way to what he did in his early Highlanders years. But it is at fullback where he is worth the most, as you get the most out of his all-round game. There have been many memorable moments in his first 100 games with the Highlanders, hopefully there are many more to come.

The importance of this win

This was a game the Highlanders needed to win. Of course it would have taken a brave man to bet against them, but it was never a sure thing. Perth often acts as a banana skin for teams and the Highlanders had not beaten the Force since 2007. Indeed it transpired into a hard-fought game in which the backs were not able to bring the spark from a week earlier. But the mark of a good team is that when one area falters, another flourishes, which was what happened here, as the tight five really stepped up. It takes the Highlanders to nine wins and 43 points, and only the Hurricanes and Chiefs have more. If they could win one of their next three matches, it would be hard to see anyone bumping them out of the top six. Why stop there though? This team is good enough to go after the No. 1 wildcard spot, which would see them earn a home playoff game, something we have not seen since 1999.

Add a Comment