Super Rugby: Highlanders Cause Storm In Capital With Win Over Hurricanes

By
at Internationaled.org

Published: February 18, 2011

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The Highlanders have got their 2011 Super Rugby campaign off to a positive start with a 14-9 win over the more fancied Hurricanes.

It wasn't pretty, but a win's a win at this stage of the season and that's all that matters as far as the Highlanders are concerned.

The key was dominance up front.

Their forward pack played with much more physicality than the Hurricanes pack, pushing them around and disrupting their ball.

This put the inside back combination of Tyson Keats and Aaron Cruden under all sorts of pressure and meant that they weren't able to unleash their lethal outside backs.

To keep a team that has a back five containing Ma'a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Julian Savea, Hosea Gear and Cory Jane, try-less is a remarkable achievement and shows just how well the Highlanders defended. 

In fact, had it not been for three easy kicks being missed, the win should have been much more comfortable for the southern men.

The kicker in question was 20-year-old Lima Sopoaga, who was making his Super Rugby debut. It was clear that nerves were getting to him, as he slotted two long range penalties, but missed three virtual gimmie's.

Despite this, he looked good around the field, directing play well and other than a few dropped balls, did little wrong and will be worth persisting with.

Jimmy Cowan showed all of his class as he pulled the strings for the Highlanders and ensured that they maintained good field position and organised the defence well.

His running game looked to be much improved, as seen when he scooted around the back of a lineout before flicking a pass inside to Sopoaga to set up the only try of the game.

But it was Adam Thomson who was the real hero for the Highlanders, spearheading a loose forward trio who completely outplayed their opponents. Thomson made tackle after tackle and was very influential in the win running with the ball...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Rugby Union

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