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http://cyrilsplace.wordpress.com/2011/04/01/highlanders-hold-out-against-blunt-brumbies/
written by cyRil
Highlanders 26-20 Brumbies
Hosts down wasteful Aussies at Rugby Park
The Highlanders made the most of their opportunities and defeated the Brumbies at Invercargill on Friday night, consigning the Australian capital province to their fifth consecutive SupeRugby loss of the 2011 season.
Although the teams scored three tries a piece in an exciting game, with both sets of fifteen putting in improved performances on their previous respective matches, it was the Highlanders who took their chances and kept their discipline and nerve -just about - to record their fourth win of the season and move up to second in the New Zealand conference.
The Highlanders did well with what ball they had
The first real action the game saw was when All Black second-row Tom Donnelly pounced upon a loose pass in the Brumbies midfield to intercept and lumber as fast as his legs could carry him towards the try-line.
Although he was dealt with easily by the visitor's defence before he had even reached the 22, it was a run that had sparked the imagination of the crowd, who from then on were baying for open and fast-paced rugby from the home side.
They would have to wait, however, as the next two opportunities to open the scoring were awarded to the visiting Brumbies in the form of penalties for stand-off Matt Giteau; both of which were carelessly missed by the 89-cap Wallaby.
It didn't take long for the home side to make the Brumbies pay for their profligacy.
Rutledge set the game alight with 2 tries in 2 minutes
From a Brumbies up-and-under the ball bounced loose and was picked up by Highlanders right-wing and live-wire, Kade Poki, who ghosted past several would-be tacklers to break free in midfield. Turning on the gas, Poki flew down the pitch with support on both sides; and although his pass could not find either runner the ball was picked up by scrum-half Jimmy Cowan, who's brilliant vision and expert execution found hooker Jason Rutledge in the left-hand corner for the game's first score; 5-0 Highlanders.
Promising fly-half Colin Slade missed with the difficult conversion, but he didn't have to wait too long to make amends.
Poki showed his skills once again with ball in hand, doing brilliantly in possession on the right touchline, passing inside to full-back Ben Smith who himself made good yardage before offloading to the omnipresent Rutledge who displayed marvellous hands to pick up the low pass and dive over in the corner.
From the opposite side of the pitch Slade was on target, and the Highlanders were now 12-0 and two scores ahead with less than 10 minutes played.
The Highlanders were uncompromising in defence and attack
The Brumbies continued the half with plenty of the ball in their possession. As the first period progressed the stats read in favour of the traveling Aussies, but the score in no way reflected their dominance in the game; and they could make no real head-way up against a determined and resolute Highlanders defence - epitomised by blindside Adam Thomson's bullocking tackle and drive of the attacker that forced the Brumbies backwards and affected a brilliant turnover.
When Salesi Ma'afu was somewhat harshly penalised for grabbing Cowan at the ruck - even though the half-back appeared to have his hands on the ball - the home side were provided an opportunity to extend their lead, which Slade duly took; 15-0 Highlanders after 25 minutes.
The ferocious tackling and counter-rucking continued for the Highlanders for the remainder of the first half, but seeing very little ball themselves, they were finding it increasingly difficult to keep the Brumbies out.
Their defence finally cracked with 7 minutes of the half left, when fly-half Giteau capitalised on building ACT pressure, received quick ball in the midfield and slid through a gap in the line after throwing a slick dummy; the Wallaby playmaker converting his own try to make it 15-7 leading up to the break.
The Brumbies were enjoying the lions' share of possession, but the Highlanders were meeting that with unbridled intensity in the contact and breakdown areas to deny them time and again.
However, poor discipline at a ruck provided the visitors with the final chance of the half to score and cut the deficit to a mere 4 points at the break - but centre Christian Leali'ifano dragged his effort agonisingly wide.
The home side's efforts were summed up by their colossal tackling
The Highlanders extended their lead shortly after the re-start with a long-range penalty from Tony Brown; who had come on to replace the injured Slade, but the Brumbies replied in-turn when Giteau kicked his first 3-pointer of the night after Donnelly had been pinged for being offside.
The second period was taking similar shape to that of the first - the Brumbies hogging the ball and keeping pressing the hosts line, but the Highlanders holding firm, tackling valiantly and refusing to give an inch. The men from Otago had seemed to get it down to an art form; containing Brumbies' play with textbook tackling, and waiting for an attacker to get himself isolated without support and pouncing on him, in-so-doing either winning a turnover or a penalty for holding on, to the appreciative roars of their crowd.
When the visitors were penalised again for not rolling away at the breakdown, Brown seemingly sewed the game up with another successful shot at goal to make it 21-10 with 14 minutes to play. But when the replacement fly-half went off his feet himself at a ruck, referee Stuart Dickinson reached for his pocket and sent Brown to the bin for 10 minutes - leaving his teammates with extra work and pressure for the remainder of the game.
Kade Poki was a constant nuisance to the Brumbies
And when centre Andrew Smith ignored Giteau outside him to cut back in and crash over the Invercargill crowd really had a game on their hands and a tight finish - somewhat alleviated by the erratic kicking of Giteau as he missed another eminently convertible kick.
The Highlanders were under no illusions at this point, and with the ball under their control looked to slow the tempo of the game in order to run the clock down as much as possible.
But with extended possession for one of the few times in the game the hosts built phase after phase and made yard upon yard before finding themselves mere inches from the Brumbies line. After a number of forward drives that set the play up, Highlanders captain and loosehead Jamie Mackintosh took the ball from the base of the ruck and showed strength and tenacity to burrow over for his side's third try of the evening, and seemingly ending the Brumbies' interest in the fixture.
As Brown was still off the field, the tee was given to replacement scrum-half Aaron Smith, and although he had been excellent in the build up to Mackintosh's try, the young half-back was off-target with his effort; 26-15 Highlanders with 5 minutes to play.
The scoring still wasn't over with as Brumbies' replacement scrum-half Patrick Phibbs first job was to capitalise on poor concentration and lazy Highlanders short defence to snipe round the fringes and place the ball down in the corner. However, another wayward kick from the misfiring Giteau left the score at 26-20, and meant the men from Canberra had to score another converted try to take the game.
Giteau (r) missed 11 points for the Brumbies in kicks
Although the Brumbies collected from the re-start and looked to set something up, it was fitting that another fierce Highlanders tackle dislodged the ball from their possession, forcing a knock on and bringing an end to the nights' proceedings.
This game showed two sides - one that was determined, well-drilled and took their chances when they came in attack, and another that was wasteful, wanton and woeful with the ball in hand.
The Brumbies had more than enough possession and territory in the game to wipe the Highlanders out on the scoreboard, and yet come full-time the score was the only statistic in the South Islanders' favour.
Perhaps instead of mixing up their backline at every breakdown, they should have used one fly-halves instead of three, something that would have given them stability and structure - it seems impossible to control a game if you're running at first receiver in one phase and then from full-back in the next.
It was a risky ploy, and one that ultimately cost the Brumbies dear and only their second win of the campaign; not that the Highlanders will complain as their dogged determination won the day and sees them back to winning ways in time for their targetable home tie with the Cheetahs next weekend.
Star Man: Adam Thomson (Highlanders) - The back-rower epitomised the home side's efforts throughout, making countless tackles and forcing a number of key turnovers.
5-metre Flop: Matt Giteau (Brumbies) - The Wallaby's goal-kicking has been an issue for some time and it will be to the fore again after he coughed up over 10 points in missed shots at goal.
written by cyRil
Highlanders 26-20 Brumbies
Hosts down wasteful Aussies at Rugby Park
The Highlanders made the most of their opportunities and defeated the Brumbies at Invercargill on Friday night, consigning the Australian capital province to their fifth consecutive SupeRugby loss of the 2011 season.
Although the teams scored three tries a piece in an exciting game, with both sets of fifteen putting in improved performances on their previous respective matches, it was the Highlanders who took their chances and kept their discipline and nerve -just about - to record their fourth win of the season and move up to second in the New Zealand conference.
The Highlanders did well with what ball they had
The first real action the game saw was when All Black second-row Tom Donnelly pounced upon a loose pass in the Brumbies midfield to intercept and lumber as fast as his legs could carry him towards the try-line.
Although he was dealt with easily by the visitor's defence before he had even reached the 22, it was a run that had sparked the imagination of the crowd, who from then on were baying for open and fast-paced rugby from the home side.
They would have to wait, however, as the next two opportunities to open the scoring were awarded to the visiting Brumbies in the form of penalties for stand-off Matt Giteau; both of which were carelessly missed by the 89-cap Wallaby.
It didn't take long for the home side to make the Brumbies pay for their profligacy.
Rutledge set the game alight with 2 tries in 2 minutes
From a Brumbies up-and-under the ball bounced loose and was picked up by Highlanders right-wing and live-wire, Kade Poki, who ghosted past several would-be tacklers to break free in midfield. Turning on the gas, Poki flew down the pitch with support on both sides; and although his pass could not find either runner the ball was picked up by scrum-half Jimmy Cowan, who's brilliant vision and expert execution found hooker Jason Rutledge in the left-hand corner for the game's first score; 5-0 Highlanders.
Promising fly-half Colin Slade missed with the difficult conversion, but he didn't have to wait too long to make amends.
Poki showed his skills once again with ball in hand, doing brilliantly in possession on the right touchline, passing inside to full-back Ben Smith who himself made good yardage before offloading to the omnipresent Rutledge who displayed marvellous hands to pick up the low pass and dive over in the corner.
From the opposite side of the pitch Slade was on target, and the Highlanders were now 12-0 and two scores ahead with less than 10 minutes played.
The Highlanders were uncompromising in defence and attack
The Brumbies continued the half with plenty of the ball in their possession. As the first period progressed the stats read in favour of the traveling Aussies, but the score in no way reflected their dominance in the game; and they could make no real head-way up against a determined and resolute Highlanders defence - epitomised by blindside Adam Thomson's bullocking tackle and drive of the attacker that forced the Brumbies backwards and affected a brilliant turnover.
When Salesi Ma'afu was somewhat harshly penalised for grabbing Cowan at the ruck - even though the half-back appeared to have his hands on the ball - the home side were provided an opportunity to extend their lead, which Slade duly took; 15-0 Highlanders after 25 minutes.
The ferocious tackling and counter-rucking continued for the Highlanders for the remainder of the first half, but seeing very little ball themselves, they were finding it increasingly difficult to keep the Brumbies out.
Their defence finally cracked with 7 minutes of the half left, when fly-half Giteau capitalised on building ACT pressure, received quick ball in the midfield and slid through a gap in the line after throwing a slick dummy; the Wallaby playmaker converting his own try to make it 15-7 leading up to the break.
The Brumbies were enjoying the lions' share of possession, but the Highlanders were meeting that with unbridled intensity in the contact and breakdown areas to deny them time and again.
However, poor discipline at a ruck provided the visitors with the final chance of the half to score and cut the deficit to a mere 4 points at the break - but centre Christian Leali'ifano dragged his effort agonisingly wide.
The home side's efforts were summed up by their colossal tackling
The Highlanders extended their lead shortly after the re-start with a long-range penalty from Tony Brown; who had come on to replace the injured Slade, but the Brumbies replied in-turn when Giteau kicked his first 3-pointer of the night after Donnelly had been pinged for being offside.
The second period was taking similar shape to that of the first - the Brumbies hogging the ball and keeping pressing the hosts line, but the Highlanders holding firm, tackling valiantly and refusing to give an inch. The men from Otago had seemed to get it down to an art form; containing Brumbies' play with textbook tackling, and waiting for an attacker to get himself isolated without support and pouncing on him, in-so-doing either winning a turnover or a penalty for holding on, to the appreciative roars of their crowd.
When the visitors were penalised again for not rolling away at the breakdown, Brown seemingly sewed the game up with another successful shot at goal to make it 21-10 with 14 minutes to play. But when the replacement fly-half went off his feet himself at a ruck, referee Stuart Dickinson reached for his pocket and sent Brown to the bin for 10 minutes - leaving his teammates with extra work and pressure for the remainder of the game.
Kade Poki was a constant nuisance to the Brumbies
And when centre Andrew Smith ignored Giteau outside him to cut back in and crash over the Invercargill crowd really had a game on their hands and a tight finish - somewhat alleviated by the erratic kicking of Giteau as he missed another eminently convertible kick.
The Highlanders were under no illusions at this point, and with the ball under their control looked to slow the tempo of the game in order to run the clock down as much as possible.
But with extended possession for one of the few times in the game the hosts built phase after phase and made yard upon yard before finding themselves mere inches from the Brumbies line. After a number of forward drives that set the play up, Highlanders captain and loosehead Jamie Mackintosh took the ball from the base of the ruck and showed strength and tenacity to burrow over for his side's third try of the evening, and seemingly ending the Brumbies' interest in the fixture.
As Brown was still off the field, the tee was given to replacement scrum-half Aaron Smith, and although he had been excellent in the build up to Mackintosh's try, the young half-back was off-target with his effort; 26-15 Highlanders with 5 minutes to play.
The scoring still wasn't over with as Brumbies' replacement scrum-half Patrick Phibbs first job was to capitalise on poor concentration and lazy Highlanders short defence to snipe round the fringes and place the ball down in the corner. However, another wayward kick from the misfiring Giteau left the score at 26-20, and meant the men from Canberra had to score another converted try to take the game.
Giteau (r) missed 11 points for the Brumbies in kicks
Although the Brumbies collected from the re-start and looked to set something up, it was fitting that another fierce Highlanders tackle dislodged the ball from their possession, forcing a knock on and bringing an end to the nights' proceedings.
This game showed two sides - one that was determined, well-drilled and took their chances when they came in attack, and another that was wasteful, wanton and woeful with the ball in hand.
The Brumbies had more than enough possession and territory in the game to wipe the Highlanders out on the scoreboard, and yet come full-time the score was the only statistic in the South Islanders' favour.
Perhaps instead of mixing up their backline at every breakdown, they should have used one fly-halves instead of three, something that would have given them stability and structure - it seems impossible to control a game if you're running at first receiver in one phase and then from full-back in the next.
It was a risky ploy, and one that ultimately cost the Brumbies dear and only their second win of the campaign; not that the Highlanders will complain as their dogged determination won the day and sees them back to winning ways in time for their targetable home tie with the Cheetahs next weekend.
Star Man: Adam Thomson (Highlanders) - The back-rower epitomised the home side's efforts throughout, making countless tackles and forcing a number of key turnovers.
5-metre Flop: Matt Giteau (Brumbies) - The Wallaby's goal-kicking has been an issue for some time and it will be to the fore again after he coughed up over 10 points in missed shots at goal.
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