Rugby: Penalty count costs Highlanders

Stormers replacement Schalk Brits is tackled by Highlanders halfback Jimmy Cowan during their...
Stormers replacement Schalk Brits is tackled by Highlanders halfback Jimmy Cowan during their Super 14 match in Cape Town yesterday. Getty images
The interpretations at the breakdown by Australian referee James Leckie were baffling for the Highlanders and they paid for it in the penalty and free kick count.

"The penalty count cost us tonight,'' coach Glenn Moore told the Otago Daily Times from Cape Town after the 26-16 loss to the Stormers. ``We failed to come to grips with how the referee was interpreting the breakdown. It baffled the players and us as coaches as well.

"You have to be able to adapt to different interpretations and we failed to do that.
"It was frustrating to the players and we paid for it in the penalty count.''

The South African safari has taken its toll on the Highlanders and three players have returned home early for medical treatment.

They are first five-eighths Daniel Bowden (concussion), James Wilson (hip injury) and No 8 Steven Setephano (calf injury).

Southland first five-eighth Blair Stewart joined the team in Cape Town last week and had game time off the bench against the Stormers.

Fullback Glen Horton, a member of the Highlanders' wider training squad, flew out of Dunedin on Saturday.

The Highlanders will also be joined by No 8 George Naoupu (24), a member of the Hurricanes wider training squad. He impressed with his Air New Zealand Cup form for Hawkes Bay last winter.

There was a huge transformation in the attitude of the Highlanders players compared with last week's game against the Bulls.
"It was a one-off bad game last week,'' Moore said.


"Defence was our big focus this week and we concentrated on the physical aspects of it and made sure we were accurate.''
With the scores level at 9-9 at half-time, Moore thought the Highlanders could win the game.
"We were reasonably confident at half-time,'' Moore said. ``We were getting penetration through the middle.'' But it was different in the second half when the Stormers blasted the Highlanders apart.

"The Stormers controlled possession and territory so much better in the second spell,'' Moore said.

"We were disappointed with that. There were 17 points scored in a window of 14min and it proved costly. A couple of errors cost us.''

But unlike the Bulls game when the Highlanders' defensive screen fell apart, the Highlanders showed resolution and determination in stopping the Stormers from adding to their score.

"We've got a young side, but at the end of the day we've got to convert some of these games into wins,'' Moore said. ``It's not just about competing. It's about winning.''

The game continued the series of close losses that have plagued the Highlanders all season.
Moore does not usually single out individual players for praise after a game, but he did mention the gutsy display by first five-eighth Mike Delany who was one of the players who had been sick during the week.

"I thought Mike stepped up well and played a solid game tonight,'' Moore said. ``It was a tough week for him.''

It will be the job of Moore and the coaching staff to make sure the team can lift itself for the vital game against the Cheetahs at Bloemfontein next Friday.

The Highlanders and the Cheetahs are 12th-equal on 11 points, three ahead of the bottom-placed Lions.
"It is a crunch game for us and one we are targeting,'' Moore said. "But they will be targeting it too. It is a must-win game for us.''

Moore remains confident of a win despite only having a six-day turnaround after the Stormers game.
"It was a physical game tonight and there are a lot of bumps and bruises,'' Moore said.

"I'm confident in the young guys in the team. It is all about getting up again for next week. The one thing we will be focusing on is winning and not just competing well.

"The boys are buoyant. There is plenty of belief there. There has been all year. They have lot of fight.''

The remaining Highlanders' games are against the Cheetahs (Bloemfontein), Blues (Dunedin) and Crusaders (Christchurch).

The Cheetahs play the Highlanders, Sharks (Durban) and Bulls (Bloemfontein). The Lions play the Hurricanes (Wellington), Chiefs (Johannesburg) and Stormers (Johannesburg).

 

 

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