Rugby: Nothing less than good win will suffice

Highlanders going through a line-out routine at Carisbrook yesterday are (from left) Jamie...
Highlanders going through a line-out routine at Carisbrook yesterday are (from left) Jamie Mackintosh, Joe Tuineau, Steven Setephano, Bronson Murray and Sean Romans. Photo by Gerard O'Brien.
Coaches say it all the time: every game is said to be a must-win.

But for the Highlanders tonight, nothing less than a win - and a good win at that - will suffice.

The season began with promise and hopes of making the next step to the upper reaches of the Super 14 table. Coach Glenn Moore had talked of this season being critical, after two years of building and gaining experience.

But coming up to midway through the competition, and with just one win in the bank, the Highlanders have well and truly reached crunch time.

Lose tonight, against a Lions side that has yet to win a game, and the lynching may not be far away.

The Highlanders have been in most games and competed well, but that summation is one which has become almost a staple of any Highlanders performance in the past three seasons.

In all but a few games during Moore's three-year reign, the team has been there or thereabouts, and has rarely been on the end of a beating.

But too often, the Highlanders have ended up on the wrong end of a close loss.

In this day of instant results and countless attractions, being in front at the end is what matters. A close second might as well be last - and in a two-horse race like a rugby game, it is last.

Gallant and gutsy performances do not count at the end of the season.

The Highlanders know that. In fact, they are the first to acknowledge it.

Captain Jimmy Cowan spoke last week of his side not getting the rewards from the hard work, but just needing to keep boxing on. He was sick of just being competitive. He wanted the side to win.

There is no doubt the team has the foundations to put together a decent winning run.

In players such as loose forward Adam Thomson, winger Ben Smith and fullback Israel Dagg, the Highlanders have genuine game-breakers.

Cowan is the incumbent All Black halfback and outside him there is a talented youngster in Robbie Robinson, who was cleared to play yesterday, recovering from a niggle in his quad.

The Highlanders might have the weapons in their armoury to unlock teams, but their attack looked blunt at times last week.

More composure is needed, especially from the big-game players when the tryline is in sight, and those little errors must be cut out of the game.

The Lions are nearing the end of their five-week tour, and thoughts may be turning to home.

But in players such as Carlos Spencer and Jano Vermaak they have dangerous attackers, who will cut a side to shreds if allowed.

The Highlanders must not let them. Suffocating defence is a hallmark of the best teams in this competition and the Highlanders have to produce a clinical tacking performance tonight.

The set piece has been solid all season, so the side has not lacked for ball.

In fact, in all statistics, the Highlanders are making positive progress.

But at the end of the game, there is only that statistic that matters.

For the sake of Highlanders rugby, they have to be on the right side of the scoreboard tonight.

 

Add a Comment