Thompson's inner strength pays off

Rob Thompson's white-hot form is no accident, drawing on the loss of his father to make a statement.

Thompson, the Highlanders midfielder, scored his third try in two games - all of them after coming off the bench - and his five-pointer on Saturday night proved crucial in the side's 44-28 win over the Waratahs at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

Thompson was part of a strong bench performance from the Highlanders, who pulled away in the second half after the Waratahs had led 14-13 at halftime.

Thompson said the side's ability to win came down to character and the hard work within the team.

''I think just in our games we have got that extra fight in us, within the team.

''We just carry on the Highlanders way through the week. We like to be the underdogs and want to work harder than the opposition,'' he said.

Thompson, who has just signed on with the Highlanders for next season, has had a tough season off the field, losing his father Geoff.

He had a few weeks off to spend some time with his father before he died but he was thinking of him every day.

''I'm just playing for my old man, who I lost a month or two ago.

''That's just giving me that extra bit of strength. Gets you out of bed and to do that extra work. You know he is there. It has made me stronger losing him.''

Added to that was this was his second season of Super Rugby where he is more used to the pace and physicality.

''It took a good year. Last year, I would watch guys like Bender [Ben Smith] and just sit back. Now you want to run off him and be part of it.

''I had a focus this year - putting on the pace more and getting involved.''

That he has done and is making the midfield one of riches for the Highlanders, although he put the try-scoring run down to getting on a streak and being in the right place at the right time.

Thompson and the backs in general benefited from a powerful Highlanders scrum which dominated its counterpart.

The sides were evenly matched in the first half but the Waratahs went a man down, after lock Dean Mumm tip-tackled Elliot Dixon early in the second half, and that was the catalyst for the Highlanders to go on the front foot.

Liam Coltman immediately scored a try and then centre Malakai Fekitoa put in a nice chip kick for Tevita Li to run on to and score.

It rained tries in the final minutes and the best when big replacement prop Siosiua Halanukonuka ran 20m before being lowered just before the tryline. Front row partner Daniel Lienert-Brown simply scooped up the ball up to score.

Best for the Highlanders were Fekitoa, Ben and Aaron Smith while lock Alex Ainley was energetic and Dixon got round the field.

 

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