Rugby: Five areas where the Highlanders can improve

If the Highlanders are to improve on last season's placing in the Super 15, they need to make some improvements, writes ODT Online rugby contributor Jeff Cheshire.

Set-Piece

The set-piece was a real issue in 2013, both the scrum and lineout at times being major cause for concern. There has not been a lot of change personnel-wise to help the lineout, but with Liam Coltman's throwing having improved out of sight over the past 12 months it may not matter.

Josh Bekhuis was the one reliable option in the middle and back last year and should reprise this role this year, while Gareth Evans, when he is used, will make a nice addition as an explosive jumper at the front.

With Tony Woodcock, Andrew Hore and Jamie Mackintosh all moving on there is plenty of change in the front row, which should make things interesting. Coltman is a strong enough scrummager, so the hooker role should be filled easily enough, but the props pose a more interesting question. Chris King proved himself to be reliable last year and should be used, although the new Argentinian signing, Matias Diaz, may surpass him for the tighthead jersey.

The loosehead is the bigger issue and it may take some time to discover who the No. 1 here is, having lost both the specialists from last year. Brad Thorn should add some grunt from in behind too, so all going well the scrum might at least gain parity this year, although much will depend on how the new players fit in.

Communication at the Breakdown

It was hard to know if it was communication or just bad play, but too many times the ball was left in the back of a ruck for too long with little protection. Their play in the breakdown had been a strength during 2011 and 2012, so it was a surprise to see the Highlanders getting pushed off ball last year. But that is what happens when you are only committing two or three players to the ruck and then taking time to clear the ball.

If you want to take the time to set up before you clear it, you must ensure that you are protecting the ball by committing the necessary numbers. Otherwise you get pushed off the ball, or put the halfback under all sorts of pressure. Likewise if you do not want to commit numbers, you have to ensure that you clear the ball quickly and the players you do commit get there quickly and have rock-solid body positions.

Blindside Flanker

When Adam Thomson left in late 2012 the questions was who was going to replace him. We then went through the entire 2013 campaign with no-one really putting their hand up, and heading into this season the position remains up for grabs. Jarrad Hoeata and Joe Wheeler were both tried and while both were hard workers, they each looked like locks playing flanker.

TJ Ioane is logical option, but he may be used in the impact player role off the bench that he excelled in for Otago in the ITM Cup. Gareth Evans could be an option, although he will have to prove himself at this level. Elliot Dixon is similar and showed moments of brilliance last year. That leaves Shane Christie, who should be the frontrunner at this stage. Christie is another player with a high work rate and is an experienced campaigner at provincial level, although he has primarily excelled as an openside flanker.

Direction and Creativity

Another big issue in 2013 was the lack of direction, particularly from the backline. There was a look of disorganisation and they often resorted to throwing the ball around aimlessly, or giving it to someone to crash it up without looking to run through a gap. Once Colin Slade began playing with confidence towards the end of the season things looked much better, although they still lacked many good set-plays.

It is this area that the change in personnel should make the biggest change, in the signing of Tony Brown. The Otago backline had some very good set-moves and looked a lot more organised than the Highlanders and Brown deserves some credit for this and with any luck might sort out some of the Highlanders' problems.

That said, losing Slade will not help, as it leaves the Highlanders with three relatively inexperienced first five-eighths who will be faced with the job of running the back line. Hayden Parker looks to be a good prospect though and showed in his chances last year that he is capable of setting his men up well, while Lima Sopoaga can do this too, although his consistency is still an issue.

Being Clinical

Last year so many chances were created, but then so few were taken. It was the little things they said that were costing them. But as we found out, sometimes these little things are not so little. The teams that are successful at this level are the ones that are clinical in everything they do. That one missed tackle, that one dropped ball, could be the difference between a win and a loss.

It may sound harsh, but that is the reality and these small things can spoil what was otherwise a pretty good performance. With a young team, this is going to even more important this year, particularly defensively, where making tackles is going to be a must.