It was built-up as a quality semi-final series to exemplify the highest standards of Super Rugby. The “best of the best” as Sky commentary would have us believe. I knew that we had a genuine contest in both semi-finals; Hurricanes hosting a resurgent Brumbies and the well rested Waratahs meeting the high-flying Highlanders.
I will report on one of the Semi-Finals, choosing the Australian clash. Marcus Raymond will report on The Hurricanes v Brumbies Wellington game and while that was a terrific success for the Wellington franchise, I wanted to believe that the team from Dunedin would exceed all expectations. Over the competition I’m very happy with my season opening predictions of The Hurricanes being NZ conference winner, The Waratahs being top in Australia and The Stormers qualifying first. Out of those sides, only the first two would now have a chance to take the crown but this Highlanders team had as good a chance as any.
You know it was so close in both Australian and in South African conferences, as The Brumbies could well have been ranked number one if they’d grabbed another win in 2015, but the ‘Tahs proved too good and benefited from a first-up Bye (as did the ‘Canes) A very good squad that is bolstered by incumbent Wallabies, they now needed to be ready for one of the most energetic and charismatic sides this season, The Highlanders. Effectively the second highest scoring team in the competition with 14 victories over the year, this is a winning side who have a winning habit. The hosts would have maybe preferred to see an Australian team [if The Chiefs had won the week before] but they would have to play the cards they were dealt.
____________________________________________________
Super Rugby Semi-finals – Waratahs V Highlanders Overview
Venue : Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Score : 17-35
Home advantage in most sports, means that you should benefit from being familiar with the conditions, the atmosphere and having your home fans supporting you is always good for the team spirit. To me, The Waratahs had two out of three of those factors on Saturday.
a) They had fans all dressed in light Blue – check. b) They knew the white-hot atmosphere of semi-final rugby in a way much more familiar that their opponents – check. But what they couldn’t be assured of were the conditions, and they looked ‘undecided’ on what plays to use all night. If that had anything to do with the late withdrawal of Kurtley Beale due to injury, then it won’t reflect well on the rest of the side. His replacement Matt Carraro would be stepping into the deep end but being surrounded by players from the victorious 2014 side, he would have hoped to adapt easily.
Opposing him was a side with less big-time match awareness. Having only a scattering of All Blacks regulars, a super-heated Sydney Football Stadium was heaving with excitement and this is was the biggest game for that franchise since 1999. The biggest match they might ever be involved in, so would that external pressure get to this young side? We got our answer in the final result, but it’s the way the Dunedin based side faced this daunting task that is representative of their hard working team culture.
Beginning the match, a small ‘Tahs error planted them immediately near the BlueZone and it was good resolve that the home side repelled this first raid. If The Highlanders wanted to win, they needed to play at 100% and run the Waratahs ragged. Along with that inventive nature, the lineouts & scrums were an asset for this side tonight, but it looked like a genuine contest for most of the match.
To the visitors credit they had 100% success with both scrum and lineout, even stealing Waratahs ball and made a scrum turnover. Good skills there, they played with ‘ball in hand’ primarily and while the ‘Tahs did score first out wide; through a well weighted Ben Foley chip for Rob Horne to score, it didn’t unsettle this more enthusiastic Highlanders team. We love the inventiveness of this Landers side. On this night they used width, pushing forward then maintaining good body position to retain ball and held out Michael Hooper for the majority of the game.
The ruck is still the key to retaining front-foot ball & they looked better from the word go. The fact it was it was Hooper’s 50th game, this may not be one he reflects on well, as he didn’t influence the game to the same degree that he’d like to.
Nick Phipps is smart, but he didn’t look too sharpish compared to the mighty Aaron Smith on this night. For the entire game, Smith outshone his opposite with ball in hand, passing and in most kicking. While the ‘Landers box kicks seemed to be handled well by Israel Folau, they kept that player occupied predominantly. That may have been a tactic designed specifically against this side. The home side didn’t know if The Highlanders backline would be ‘released upon them’ and seemed to sit back to receive ball (37 kicks in play showed their plan)
Not a lot in it, pressure was on the ‘Tahs for much of this first half, in defending and with less territory and a worsening possession percentage over the match. Unable to go far from forward play, neither Adam Ashley-Cooper or their weapon Taqele Naiyaravoro were freed. It was pretty plain rugby from them and more entertaining gameplay came from the ‘Landers team. Worryingly Lima Sopoaga was involved in a collision and was pulled from the game for a concussion test. He had seemed to strain his knee during the week and media had assumed that he was not a likely starter, but apart from Dan Pryor being replaced [due to a fractured elbow] this side was very settled. They really needed to have their ‘Director’ in place.
Trent Renata came on and he wasn’t as inspirational. Ben Smith joined the line at times, and they worked the ball up to The Waratahs line. By chance, from The Waratahs scrum clearance, the lightning quick Smith pushed passed Phipps and managed to intercept the ball to cross over. Super intelligent and looking to be the Most Valuable Player in all of Super Rugby in 2015. That score was underpinned when Sopoaga returned to play (phew, fans could breath again)
Pushing constantly, they did receive some penalties against their attacking defensive style and were punished all night from the boot. Foley was successful with two more penalties and extended their lead, but this New Zealand team make advantages in scores of five points thank you. It was a hard barging Richard Buckman who brought them back into the game. An earlier call by Craig Joubert for players being held in tackles was highlighted in the Barracuda’s try, as Waratahs tacklers were on the ground when he was not held, his knees hardly touching the turf but I didn’t see any hands on Buckman. So it was a genuine outside backs try, “Not held” was called by the official and great work from the Hawkes Bay man to help regain the lead at 11-15.
At the end of the half, Foley had brought them back to 14-15 but the pressure had mounted on his side. They really did not look the strongest of the semi-finalists, their forwards could not dominate, big Will Skelton unable to be effective at first receiver and it looked too programmed and mechanical. Rather, a more imaginative and excited side faced them and The Highlanders seemed to be improving over the course of this match. Quicker to the breakdown which would concern Waratahs management. Landers were running better lines, being knocked back more often than they crossed for sure, playing with more intent even the crowd knew who were the more ambitious team had been so far.
As they had been in the first half, captain Nasi Manu and Smith were warned early of infringing from their side, another ruck penalty saw referee Joubert issue a stern warning. That allowed Foley to make it 17-15 but a recent Highlanders scoring trend was about to continue. So often this season they were straight into their work, moving the ball through many hands and seemed hell-bent on crossing their opponents line first. If I were to say that this scoring action had occurred nearly a dozen times over the season, then shouldn’t The Waratahs have been more prepared? Michael Cheika must have told them to be ready for an early assault and it came from a familiar source.
This sides handling skills and player inter-passing is a mark of their confidence, just as the ball was shared right. Sopoaga released Waisake Naholo, and the new All Blacks winger didn’t hesitate to give kick-and-chase to outflank Phipps to dot the ball down superbly. Smashing into on-field camera position didn’t look too comfortable, but he has now scored 12 tries and is threatening the all time season record of Rico Gear (13) A massive fist-pump from the flying Fijian showed his emotion when the TMO called it a Try.
The Waratahs were now behind on the scoreboard and they didn’t like it. Ashley-Cooper got in the face of Malakai Fekitoa; which should be a tasty ongoing clash over the International season. Handbags were thrown mostly, but this match had feeling and soon the team in green put an exclamation point on their match status with a finely constructed fourth attacking try. A quick tap by Sopoaga was shared to Patrick Osbourne who got tackled on the line. Not clear to award straight away, the TMO then seemed to highlight an illegal tackle technique and surprisingly, the result was a penalty try. As well, the South African lock Jacques Potgieter was identified as a culprit. With boo’s ringing from the crowd and from host nation commentators [Phil Kearns included] he was sent to the sin bin, and the scores were now 17-27.
That upped the intensity and it was compounded when some rugby smarts were produced by Smith and Sopoaga. The halves pairing were quick to maximize the open space for a quick drop goal that added three valuable points. It meant the home side would need to score twice in five minutes to take the match away from the plucky Highlanders. That was a hard-ask and Osbourne was rewarded for his earlier attempt, when Sopoaga used the exact same Foley cross kick move, to put the nail in the ‘Tahs season. An astonishing victory, all players contributed tonight, in achieving a result that puts them within sight of a major franchise goal.
Just sensational.
____________________________________________________
In conclusion.
Hustling The Waratahs into mistakes, they didn’t deal with the pressure well. It was a case of ‘no answer’ to a fine lesson taught from a highly confident and exciting Higlanders side. They gained a chance to remedy their poor Sydney record stretching back to 2007, but Jamie Joseph’s men also realised a dream run that had incredible odds near the start of the season. Not many imagined them reaching a fina. Myself, I thought of them being evenly placed with The Blues. This team have far and exceeded that franchises ambitions.
As a group, they have an amazing strength and resilience in their abilities to ‘win games’ now. All too often, they play to the whistle and when in front, were only bested in two or three matches this season, but next weekend they face a team whom have beaten them twice already. That may give them a psychological edge to counter the excitement factor of The Highlanders. Not too shaby in attack themselves, each team has lethal backlines and besides a cut to the eyebrow for Naholo, will carry no new injuries into the game.
We would have never dreamed of this final. Highlanders had a chance in some peoples mind, but once The Hurricanes did the ‘incredible’ winning sequence then it was only a possibility. Both teams contributed to earning their positions and now we have an all New Zealand Super Rugby final to look forward to. It is a terrific opportunity to see a brand new Super Rugby champion also, neither team ever holding up the crown that is within reach. It’s exciting and I’ll bet next weekend will be just as intense as these Semi-finals were.
Can’t wait.
“Main Photo:”
