Flyhalf Lima Sopoaga scored the first try of the season in an 11-point haul that helped the Otago Highlanders to a surprise 14-9 win over the Wellington Hurricanes in the opening match of the expanded Super Rugby tournament.
Sopoaga managed only two penalties from six attempts, but his 20th-minute try – the only five-pointer of a substandard match – allowed the underdogs an advantage which endured throughout the match.
The Hurricanes were affected by a number of penalties and played the last 30 minutes with just 14 men after centre Ma’a Nonu was sent off for a shoulder charge on his All Blacks teammate, Highlanders scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan.
The Highlanders also ended the match with 14 men after replacement Braydon Mitchell was sin-binned in the 70th minute by Australian referee Stuart Dickinson, who handed out three yellow cards and a red card along with 24 penalties.
Otago led 11-6 at halftime and a scrappy second spell resulted in only a penalty to each team as the defence of the Highlanders shut down Wellington’s backline which included All Blacks Nonu, Conrad Smith, Aaron Cruden, Hosea Gear and Cory Jane.
“We should have closed it out after Ma’a was sent to the bin,” Highlanders captain Jamie McIntosh said. “We made hard work of it, but that’s character-building I suppose.”
Sopoaga, who turned 20 last week and was playing his first Super match, landed a penalty after eight minutes.
Cruden replied four minutes later to level at 3-3 but Sopoaga’s try, set up by Cowan, gave the Highlanders a lead that survived the last three quarters of the match.
Cowan made a devastating break around the back of the lineout, picking out mismatches with the Hurricanes’ tight forwards, and Sopoaga was at his shoulder when he delivered the ball just short of the goalline.
Sopoaga missed a simple conversion, but added a penalty which completed the first-half scoring when Nonu received his first yellow card 10 minutes before the interval.
Dickinson had already delivered a general warning over infringements at the breakdown, and when Nonu grabbed the ball at a ruck, he was immediately sent to the sin-bin.
For his second yellow card, he was judged to have felled Cowan with a shoulder charge, although it appeared he was attempting to contest the ball in the air.
“We didn’t click too well. They lived off our mistakes and there were plenty of those,” Wellington captain Andrew Hore said.
Ben S
Roar Guru
Same old Chiefs...
Max
Guest
Actually loved this game. Nice to see the Highlanders upset the egg-basket with some classic southern rugby. You can see their game plan will go from strength to strength once Colin Slade takes the helm. In saying that though I thought Lima Sopoanga for a guy who just turned 20 is surprisingly assured fly-half. Something that seems to have gone unnoticed in the pre-season hype is that the Highlanders actually have a truck-load of talent in the halves. Sopoanga, Slade, Jimmy Cowan, Robbie Robinson. OJ earlier speculated that the highlanders might not have it in the backs, I actually think they have enough to get the job done- particularly on the back of their fantastic Southland forward pack.
Short-Blind.
Guest
ABF other than the standard of the opposition (and I believe it was more than that) - why don't you think the Waratahs were rusty despite a similar trials program?
Short-Blind.
Guest
Nice that we agree for a change Ben - The Brumbies do look fragile but lots will depend on which Chief's team turns up. The current Canberra bunch appear to lack that special something of Brumbies teams of old. Maybe they will make me eat my words now?
ohtani's jacket
Guest
The Hurricanes pack will continue to struggle as will the Highlanders' backs. These are problems that have been evident for years and not because of some off season rust. On the plus side, I thought the fringe All Blacks like Thomson and Vito put in big efforts.
Taniwha
Guest
Nonu - such a muppet. Just did Sonny Bill a big favor.
Jerry
Guest
The Highlanders will likely continue to play that way, they have to turn matches into an arm wrestle if they wanna win.
Working Class Rugger
Guest
I don't know. Didn't Southland play a particular dire style of Rugby in the ITM Cup? The Canes should improve but I don't see the Highlander straying to far for the Southland gameplan.
Ben S
Roar Guru
That's a fair point.
allblackfan
Guest
It was turgid because both sides were rusty. They'll be better after a month or so.
Ben S
Roar Guru
I've got a gut feeling that the Chiefs will win too. Knowing the Chiefs that prediction is not one to take to the bookmakers, but there's something a bit fragile IMO about the Brumbies line-up. The NZ game this morning was turgid. The Highlanders were gritty, but I can't see where their points are going to come from? I'm sure they'll be difficult at home, but away from home is another thing. Hammett needs to start working his team.. and hard.. and quickly too.
Short-Blind.
Guest
Agree Katz an underwhelming spectacle which confirmed that the Canes do not have a tight 5 that can get them to the semis. I still think the Blues will just pip the Crusaders to win the NZ conference (silly I know tipping against the Sades) and tonight's game will be a good indicator. Also think the Chiefs will touch up the Brumbies tonight in Canberra.
katzilla
Roar Guru
Man of the match was Dickinson, and thats genuine. His spot on calling was the only thing slick about this game. Oh and the way Thompson and Rutledge made fools of the Canes rookie forward pack. If the Canes are going to just assume that every ruck they take the ball into his guaranteed to come back on their side, well its going to be a long season of mediocrity with half of the All Blacks backline going into the 3N being out of form and having barely touched the ball. The Highlanders are going to roll some highly fancied teams this year with their vicious counter rucking forward pack.