Super Rugby: Highlanders vs. Cheetahs in Invercargill (09/03/2013)

[Darwin]

Right, now I have calmed down (slightly) I might add a few more thoughts on the game.

First off I was very disappointed in the Highlanders game-plan (or perhaps lack of game-plan?). Over the past two seasons they have attacked the breakdown with incredible vigour - they got themselves penalised a fair bit, but they prevented the opposition getting clean ball, and stole a lot of ball to counter attack with. This season their work at the breakdown has been incredibly passive. Once the opposition gets the ball they have no trouble holding it, and are able to get quick ball for their backs too. The Highlanders need to start winning the battle at the breakdown if the want to win the odd match. The Highlanders back play was very lateral in the first half (much like last season). They were running straighter in the second half, but forgot to pass the ball (or passed it poorly). They need to be able to run straight and pass the ball. This should be a very simple thing to do, but it seems beyond the Highlanders at this stage....

Up front Tony Woodcock needs a good kick up the arse, as he has been a passenger the last two matches. He usually starts the season slowely, but personally I would have preferred MackIntosh these last two weeks (and I'm far from a fan of MackInosh). Hore was slightly better, but the lineouts were a bit of a mess at times. Brad Thorn tried hard, but you could see him getting very frustrated at times, while both Bekhuis and Wheeler were anonymous (when not missing tackles...). Hardie was the pick of the forward pack but he needs some support. Paringatai was pretty disappointing. He has lost a lot of bulk since he last played in New Zealand, and it showed, as he got driven back in the tackle numerous times. He made a lot of runs but ended up going nowhere, didn't do much at the breakdown (mainly as he was standing on the wing), and his discipline looks as poor as it was before he left. Boy did miss Manu! I'm hoping to see Dixon starting at 8 next week - he is still very raw (and has a few discipline issues himself) but does have the ability to produce the front foot ball the Highlanders need.

I thought Smith was solid at halfback, while Sopoaga had a shocker at 10. I'm sure Slade (who was actually pretty good off the bench) will be starting at first-five next weekend. Treeby and Burleigh looked a bit better in the second half (when they ran straight), but we really missed Nonu's game-breaking ability in the midfield. Gear was pretty average on the wing - he had a couple of good runs, but his defense and handling let him down. Poki was one of the sole shining lights for the Highlanders - he almost always broke the first tackle, while Popoali'i made a good impact from the bench. Smith was class again at fullback, though the Cheetahs defense contained him pretty well overall.

We need a big improvement against the Canes next weekend, so we can start to get our season back on track...

 

[Gena_ZA]

Cheetahs just better on the day, nuff said

 

[Kiwiwomble]

it's not hard to be better than the highlanders at the moment, the cheetahs just keep tackling...and tackling ...and tackling, i will never understand why when the only time we looking like breaking though their line was when we chipped and chased...we didn't do it more, where was the box kick? they were able to play their outside back up in the line on defense because we never looked like playing for position

it’s one thing to keep to a game plan...it’s another to keep too one despite it not working and ignoring better options...we were completely one dimensional and predictable

I'm going to say it, I’m starting to have my doubts in Joseph, i would happily have given up nonu to have a better loose trio but he seems to have completely changed his tactics so its like where we were when he took over rather than just adding another dimension to the formula which had taken the comp by storm two years ago

We'll never win with either a dominant pack OR a flash back line, you need both, no point having nonu and gear when they’re spending all their time tackling

i'm very unhappy<o></o>