Highlanders scorched in final hitout

Braydon Ennor, of the Crusaders, wrong-foots Josh Ioane, of the Highlanders, during a Super Rugby...
Braydon Ennor, of the Crusaders, wrong-foots Josh Ioane, of the Highlanders, during a Super Rugby pre-season match at Wanaka Showgrounds yesterday. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES
First half not too bad — let’s move on from the second half.

The Highlanders fell heavily, 41-7, to the Crusaders in Wanaka last night, as the red and blacks ran away with the game in the second half.

It was the final hitout for both sides before Super Rugby kicks off and the Crusaders would have taken more out of the game than the home team.

The Highlanders were in the match at halftime in the sweltering 30degC-plus heat.

The Crusaders only led after swift winger Will Jordan got on the end of a bouncing ball from a lineout and sped through the inside channel and ran 60m to score.

That gave his side a 12-7 lead at the break and the defending Super Rugby champion then put the hammer down in the second half to run away with the game.

The Highlanders missed too many tackles in the second half, had little ball and struggled for combinations as the heat took its toll.

Highlanders assistant coach Tony Brown said the side could not be faulted for its effort in the opening 40 minutes.

"I though we showed good intent in that first half and good physicality on defence and we put the Crusaders under plenty of pressure in that first half," he said.

"When it is 30degC and when you come out after halftime, mentally you have to be right on the job and I felt as though we had quite a few soft moments in the first 10 minutes of the second half.

"That is what got them going. They are reknowned for starting strong and we were just not ready for them in that first 10 minutes."

The side was met hard by a rugged Crusader defence any time it had the ball and had few clear-cut chances in the second half.

"I think we’ve got to look at the first half and realise that is the way we have to play. That is how we have to create pressure and where we will win rugby games."

He felt some new players had impressed – Mitch Hunt played well at first five-eighth, while loose forwards James Lentjes and Marine Mikaele Tu’u also put their hands up.

The Highlanders banged away in the first half and their only try came when centre Rob Thompson ran on to nice ball from halfback Kayne Hammington close in and could not be stopped.

But the Crusaders took over in the second half and found the holes in the Highlanders defence.

The Highlanders were not quite accurate enough with their passing and could not find a lot of space as the game went on.

Flanker Dillon Hunt gave his all, hooker Nathan Vella was industrious while the set piece was a mixed bag from both teams.

Both sides made multiple changes throughout the match in front a large crowd of about 6000. The match was played in quarters instead of two halves because of the extreme heat.

The Crusaders will take on the Waratahs in Nelson next Saturday in the opening round of Super Rugby.

The Highlanders have the bye first up but are having a camp in Central Otago next week in preparation to play the Sharks in Dunedin on February 7.

 

Work-ons

Some things were clearer than others on what the Highlanders need to work on.

  1. Make the advantage line. This is Super Rugby so of course the Crusaders were a yard offside all night, but too often the Highlanders never got near the advantage line. It lost the collision battle and must do better there. 
  2. Trust each other. The Highlanders were all over the place in defence. Too many of them went for the big hit and came up wanting. That led to space outside which was eagerly taken by the speedy Crusaders outsides. Defence is about getting in a system of 15 and trusting each other.
  3. Get it and hold on to it. The Highlanders had about as much ball as Harry has fans at Buckingham Palace. Need to value the ball more and put away the 50-50 balls and kicks.


Super Rugby preseason

The scores
Crusaders :  41

Leicester Fainga’anuku 2, Will Jordan, Michael Alaalatoa, Tom Sanders, Brayden Ensor, Fainai Paea trues; Bryn Hall 2 con, Brett Cameron con
Highlanders :  7
Rob Thompson try, Mitch Hunt con
Halftime: 12-7

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