Rugby: Can Highlanders kick on after dream start?

The Highlanders had a bye in the latest round of the Super 15, which gave ODT Online rugby writer Jeff Cheshire the opportunity to cast his eye over the southern franchise's 2012 season so far.

It's hard to believe we are already seven weeks into the 2012 Super Rugby season.

For the Highlanders it has been an almost dream start, notching up five wins from seven games to mark their best start to the season in many years. These wins have included some big scalps too, with the Chiefs and Hurricanes both in the current top six and the Crusaders, who remain contenders despite residing outside the top bunch.

But, as good as this start has been, it will be the coming weeks that will determine the outcome of the season. Before this though, let's take a look back at the areas of the game where they have excelled and also what needs to be worked on to ensure they are still in the mix come playoff time.

Where the Highlanders have excelled

Winning close games

Of all the areas where they've excelled, this has been the most crucial and remains the biggest positive of the season. In years gone by, the Highlanders made a habit of being competitive with most teams, but more often than not losing by within seven points. 2012 has seen that trend reversed, with four of the five wins coming by four points or less.

This trend shows a team that is fit, highly motivated and has the confidence to bring players on to finish off games. But the main reason this is so important simply comes in the fact that they are winning games. Just think where they would be on the table had those four close games all gone the other way.

Squad depth

The big criticism of the Highlanders in 2011 was their lack of depth, as the team fell off badly after losing some key players through injury. But so far this year this hasn't been a problem.

On numerous occasions a top player has fallen only for an equally good replacement to come and take the reins. It's hard to pinpoint an area where the Highlanders have been scarce on players, and while many teams would have crumbled with the amount of injuries that have been sustained, the Highlanders have soldiered on with everyone putting their hand up.

Counter-rucking

This was something that became a trademark of the southern men last year. But with tougher policing of the breakdowns in 2012 it was always going to be much harder to pull off. Many teams have stopped committing men to this area. Not the Highlanders though. They continue to attack the opposition ruck ball with vigour and have been doing exceptionally well.

It forces teams to commit more, cutting down their attacking options, but is also ensuring the Highlanders have more ball to play with, which as we all know is a key factor in winning rugby games.

Dominance in the loose

The games that have been won have come largely from the dominance obtained in the loose. Particularly in the early stages the loose forward trio of Adam Thomson, John Hardie and Nasi Manu were outstanding, getting through a mountain of work while also proving good ball-running options.

Andrew Hore and Nick Crosswell have also been proficient in this area. The work of all of these men at the breakdown has been outstanding and along with the strong counter-rucking ability, has been one of the two reasons for the amount of ball the Highlanders have been able to turn over. Indicatively, the one game where they did lose their way in the loose, they went down 33-26 to the Brumbies.

Positive rugby

Traditionally the Highlanders have looked to smash teams up front and use that dominance to win games. But this team have shown they aren't afraid to have a crack out wide. While some of this play can be reckless, running rugby must be applauded and the Highlanders have shown good intentions in trying to use a dangerous backline. Certainly it is this that makes a game more exciting, which is sure to draw more fans to the games. And we have all seen the difference a full stadium can make to a team's performance.

Areas to work on

Kick more intelligently

Kicking doesn't always mean playing negative rugby. There is a point where positivity becomes recklessness, which is a line the Highlanders have crossed at times this year. Playing too much rugby deep inside your own half is dangerous, particularly when the breakdowns have become such a lottery. A long kick into space or into touch coupled with a good chase can often be the best option. From here it's just a case of defending and then picking which rucks to attack, something the Highlanders have done well in general play all year.

On the flip side of this, when good attacking position has been established, kicking the ball away is just undoing all the good work.

Take the three points

This seems like an obvious one, but there have been too many times this year when the Highlanders have had a rush of blood to the head and
taken a quick tap, or kicked for touch off a penalty well within kickable range. While it's worked a few times, there have been more that haven't worked out and the three points have gone begging.

Lineouts

The lineout started as one of the strengths of the team. But as the season has progressed it has become anything but safe ball. Adam Thomson is an exceptional jumper, but too much ball is thrown thrown to him, and teams can put their best jumper on him, pressuring the lifters, the thrower and Thomson himself to get it right. Winning set piece ball is essential, and as the season progresses this will become an important area to fix up.

Find a true openside flanker

This one may be too late, but since the injury to John Hardie there has been a lack of a true openside wearing the seven jersey and it is beginning to show. James Haskell has improved and had his best game against the Stormers, but he really isn't an openside. Doug Tjetjens has been used but has failed to really stamp his authority. A good team needs at least one tearaway in the forward pack to just make a mess of the opponents' ball.

Get the wingers into space

In Hosea Gear and Kade Poki the Highlanders possess one of the most lethal wing pairings in the competition. But so far the majority of attacking

chances they've been given have come on the counterattack. Both have looked for work and have proved dangerous. But they haven't been put into space enough by the backline to have a one on one go at their man.

Granted, this is hard with the heavily organised defences of today's game. But with two men so dangerous, putting them into space once or twice a game makes them all the more valuable and makes the team all the more lethal.