Week 3: Bulls v Highlanders

[Seaton]

Jeepers, the Bulls are making the Highlanders look like the Crusaders!

I just love watching the Bulls losing, and seeing the hordes of the great unwashed blue silenced and/or booing the ref

Mon the Highlanders!

please don't lose this, please!


The Highlanders have laid out the blue print on how to beat the Bulls
A high tempo game sustained for 80 minutes is the best option with all the aging legs the Bulls have

Not a new tactic I know, but the Highlanders have been the first team to implement it on the Highveld

That Poki looks some player!

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

4 tries, bonus point for the Highlanders. What is happening this season in Dunedin? Did they clone the Crusaders players or what? The Bulls are a weak team this season. We witnessed it against the Lions and Cheetahs but they got away with a win. This time it won't be that easy. 9 minutes left to make 15 points to win the match. 2 tries won't even be enough. Pierre Spies cannot be a serious contender for the World Cup squad this way. Same goes for Stegmann

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

With a yellow card for the visitors things can happen but scoring 15 points in 6 minutes is impossible, even for the Bulls

 

[Ostrayian]

Woohoooo!!! Well played highlanders!

 

[Shaggy]

4 tries, bonus point for the Highlanders. What is happening this season in Dunedin? Did they clone the Crusaders players or what? The Bulls are a weak team this season. We witnessed it against the Lions and Cheetahs but they got away with a win. This time it won't be that easy. 9 minutes left to make 15 points to win the match. 2 tries won't even be enough. Pierre Spies cannot be a serious contender for the World Cup squad this way. Same goes for Stegmann

Three things happened: They pick more players from the Southland ITM cup team, they changed coach to Jamie Joseph, there was a change in the way the Super Rugby contracts are offered to the players enabling more freedom for who the players want to play for, and for the Highlanders to recruit better.

... I hoped they'd win, but I never dreamed they'd score 4 tries in the Bulls back yard

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Nice to hear this info Shaggs...

 

[Amobokoboko]

Really happy for the highlanders, they deserve this after all those years of having bad luck.
Luckily I put some highlanders in my super team

 

[smartcooky]

The Bulls midfield defence was pants!! I've seen blocks of Swiss cheese with less holes.

There goes the Bulls tilt at the record for the unbeaten run at home. The Crusaders record is safe, thanks to our Southern cousins!

 

[nickdnz]

Oh lord no. Please don't let the Highlanders become good. Not only will I have to eat all my words I've said about them since last year, but that'll only leave the Canes as the poor performing NZ team.

 

[Sam Owen]

You could see the Highlanders were gonna be good this year through the ITM cup. Southland had a good season as a team and the core of those players are now in the Highlanders. So Im really not that surprised the Highlanders are doing well.

 

[smartcooky]

Good to see the Highlanders giving a nod to their Southland franchise partner by using predominantly Southland colours in their "away" kit instead of that poncy white and yellow number they were wearing last year.

Crusaders could learn from that... ditch the gay Grey (ooh sorry, "platinum"

) and red they currently use.

 

[ranger]

Three things happened: They pick more players from the Southland ITM cup team, they changed coach to Jamie Joseph, there was a change in the way the Super Rugby contracts are offered to the players enabling more freedom for who the players want to play for, and for the Highlanders to recruit better.

... I hoped they'd win, but I never dreamed they'd score 4 tries in the Bulls back yard

I wouldn't be too quick to heap praise on Jamie Jospeh. He has a history of making poor decisions and it doesn't look like he has improved much..

He has already made a shocker of a call in giving Lima Sopoaga the starting 10 jersey, and another in not selecting Kade Poki (Who is probably one of the top non-test wingers in the country). He has just been very lucky in that injuries have forced him into making the right decisions.

That being said the highlanders have finally started to play to their strengths in the forwards so thats a positive for Jospeh (although it wasn't hard to see that that is their best option)

 

[Shaggy]

I wouldn't be too quick to heap praise on Jamie Jospeh. He has a history of making poor decisions and it doesn't look like he has improved much..

He has already made a shocker of a call in giving Lima Sopoaga the starting 10 jersey, and another in not selecting Kade Poki (Who is probably one of the top non-test wingers in the country). He has just been very lucky in that injuries have forced him into making the right decisions.

That being said the highlanders have finally started to play to their strengths in the forwards so thats a positive for Jospeh (although it wasn't hard to see that that is their best option)

Yep, the Highlanders strengths over the last few years has been in their forwards. In previous seasons they have probably been a team that is better than the results suggests, losing many close games.

The difference is, this year they are winning through hard fought, and sometimes, ugly rugby.

I'm not saying that Jamie Joseph is "the chosen one", but he has got credibility as an ex-player within the Highlanders catchment area, and the better teams from the past from this region, nearly always seem to have had ties to the area.

He also hasn't shied away from picking players from the dominant ITM cup side within the franchise (Southland), or giving opportunities to younger players that he's coached before (Sopoanga, Treeby).

My understanding with the Kade Poki situation is that all five franchises failed to offer him a contract, and that he was indeed picked up by the Highlanders due to injured other players, so surely he's no worse than any other coach.

I guess another reason that they have started off so well is that it's World Cup year, and aside from Jimmie Cowan, there's not too many players that are in Graham Henry's sights to make the squad, some off the others are close, but they need to be playing that much better to dislodge the other players that are ahead of them in the pecking order

 

[dan the man]

If Adam Thompson can keep this up he could force his way back into the AB's as a backup loose forward... The battle between Vito, Messam, Thompson and Braid is gonna be very interesting this season.

...and so far Tony Brown looks like he could be the backup no.10 ...
He actually had great composure and made more of an impact than i thought he would, great on defense can't believe he's 36!
The Highlanders are really playing a team game and it's paying off.
Great job!!!

 

[smartcooky]

..and so far Tony Brown looks like he could be the backup no.10 ...
He actually had great composure and made more of an impact than i thought he would, great on defense can't believe he's 36!
The Highlanders are really playing a team game and it's paying off.
Great job!!!

Also, congratulations to Tony Brown on reaching his 100th Super Rugby match.

I bet he thought he was going to remain stuck on 99!

 

[Shaggy]

Also, congratulations to Tony Brown on reaching his 100th Super Rugby match.

I bet he thought he was going to remain stuck on 99!

lol ... I think Ma'a Nonu is starting to think that way too ... he's on 99 games and has to wait until round 5 (against the Blues) to bring up that milestone

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

Good to see the Highlanders giving a nod to their Southland franchise partner by using predominantly Southland colours in their "away" kit instead of that poncy white and yellow number they were wearing last year.

Crusaders could learn from that... ditch the gay Grey (ooh sorry, "platinum"

) and red they currently use.

They had the Southland alt strip last year too, which they also wore whenever they played in Invercargil. It was the previous year, I believe, when they last used the white strip.

 

[Darwin]

Yep, the Highlanders strengths over the last few years has been in their forwards. In previous seasons they have probably been a team that is better than the results suggests, losing many close games.

The difference is, this year they are winning through hard fought, and sometimes, ugly rugby.

I'm not saying that Jamie Joseph is "the chosen one", but he has got credibility as an ex-player within the Highlanders catchment area, and the better teams from the past from this region, nearly always seem to have had ties to the area.

He also hasn't shied away from picking players from the dominant ITM cup side within the franchise (Southland), or giving opportunities to younger players that he's coached before (Sopoanga, Treeby).

My understanding with the Kade Poki situation is that all five franchises failed to offer him a contract, and that he was indeed picked up by the Highlanders due to injured other players, so surely he's no worse than any other coach.

I guess another reason that they have started off so well is that it's World Cup year, and aside from Jimmie Cowan, there's not too many players that are in Graham Henry's sights to make the squad, some off the others are close, but they need to be playing that much better to dislodge the other players that are ahead of them in the pecking order

Largely agree with everything you've posted. To be honest though, the actual number of Southland players in the squad (and in the starting 15) hasn't really increased. Last year there were 10 Southland players (out of a squad of 28), while this year there are 13 (out of a squad of 32),with the three addition players having little gametime (Bayden Mitchell) or no gametime at all thus far (Matt Saunders, Elliot Dixon).

The fact that the Highlanders have had basically the same pack (largely based on the Southland pack) for the last few years has meant they have formed a really good combination. They have had a pretty dire backline in recent years so have been unable to take advantage of their strong forward pack. Despite not having their star signing (Slade) the backline has been much better this year. They struggled at 12 last year, but this year Treeby has been very impressive. Similarly last year the Highlanders had Vainakolo on the wing who was a complete liability, while this year they have Poki who has been outstanding (despite not even being in the initial squad).

I'm not sure how long the Highlanders can keep up their great start, but for once it's great to be a Highlanders supporter!

 

[Larksea]

it's no suprise that the highlanders have improved this year but their success so far will even suprise them considering their main signing (colin slade) has been on the sideline injured the whole time.

But the big names they have like Mackintosh, Thompson & Smith have all fired and the rest are following them well. All due respect to Vainakolo but it has been a good thing for him to be replaced this year and poki has fired. Though I'd like to see Veainu get time. That kid is a great player and awesome pickup for the landers. must only be like 20 or something so maybe good to hold him back a bit.

Shaun Treeby has been impressive too, was a bit worried his lack of size would be exposed a bit in the step up from ITM cup to super rugby but it hasn't been much of a factor.

With Colin slade back and no other major injury concerns they will be contenders for sure.

 

[Darwin]

it's no suprise that the highlanders have improved this year but their success so far will even suprise them considering their main signing (colin slade) has been on the sideline injured the whole time.

But the big names they have like Mackintosh, Thompson & Smith have all fired and the rest are following them well. All due respect to Vainakolo but it has been a good thing for him to be replaced this year and poki has fired. Though I'd like to see Veainu get time. That kid is a great player and awesome pickup for the landers. must only be like 20 or something so maybe good to hold him back a bit.

Shaun Treeby has been impressive too, was a bit worried his lack of size would be exposed a bit in the step up from ITM cup to super rugby but it hasn't been much of a factor.

With Colin slade back and no other major injury concerns they will be contenders for sure.

I really like Veainu too. One of the major issues with Veainu is his size (or lack of) - he is listed at 1.80m, 85kg. Though being a smaller wing is not really an issue in itself, the Highlanders backline is full of smaller players, hence the Highlanders have preferred to use a bigger player on the left wing (Paterson and Piutau are both around 100kg). Though I'd rate Veainu as a better player than either of these two players (though Piutau had a good debut), I think the Highlanders do need a big right wing, as they have been using their right wing a lot to crash it up and set targets in midfield. I hope Veainu does get some good gametime this year, however I think this will be hard with Poki performing so well, and the Highlanders need for a big right winger...