It wasn’t a classic this evening but it was dramatic and keenly fought between these two great rivals, the Highlanders coming away with a four-point win over the Blues.
The match was permeated with errors, neither side covering themselves in glory, the handling particularly poor, the Blues suffering the most as the Highlanders continued to pepper the back three and they continued to oblige by dropping the pill.
Along with a misfiring Blues lineout, the Highlanders were able to dominate territory for long periods, scoring the matches only try in the first half, playing with greater control and urgency.
The Blues never gave up, but their lack of organisation at times was telling, reflecting in their poor ball control and with the Highlanders happy to kick the ball out.
It didn’t get any easier, the major factor for the Blues coming back into the encounter was the horrible amount of injuries the Highlanders suffered in tonight’s match, in particular Lima Sopoaga leaving the field will have the fans concerned.
They lost a bit of their shape after that, but their desperation in defence held out a fast-finishing Blues side, a knock on five out from the line summing up their effort nicely this evening.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Hi OB... By paragraph... Yes I know... Yep, hmmm, very true Yes, true, they are Yes, he might, and agree... Yes Tana does...is leaving one of them? Not sold on him yet, the serious lack of any real structure is plaguing the Blues for all eternity. There was no answer to the kicking game and with Aaron and Sapoaga playing, what did they expect! Melody Robinson even asked them prior to the match if they'd prepared for them and got the response, well we've got our own things to worry about.....blah blah... What's also annoying is the little bits that always seem to go the other way. I mean I know it's an odd shape but when does the ball bounce like that without a remote control... in the leadup to Feks try. It practically sidestepped Ranger then when backwards! And to end with a try following a knock on on the whistle....sums up many, many matches I've seen the Blues play.
Old Bugger
Guest
Slap my wrists for this TM but, I'd suggest, only the Bro's, could've lost that match. And, they did. The irony of your post is 2 former Blues players, played exceptionally well, to lead their team to victory and to take it to their opposition but, miss at the final whistle, against all odds. The Blues back-line is not firing - no, hang about....it is firing but, the bullets are blanks. The forward pack isn't firing - well they are really except, they're firing slug guns, instead of 18" howitzers. Will SBW make a difference when he returns?? Where can the Blues find a big, tall lock around 2.0+m and 120kgs?? They need this person, to balance an unbalanced locking duo and have Tuipulotu, as the hammer. When the young lock (can't remember his name) came on last night, he won his first lineout, with ease. Tana has some serious considerations to undertake, over the next few days, to turn this tide around.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Only the Blues could have lost that. In other matches Bryn Hall in a similar position managed to score effectively the winning try, Leaki Moli gets MOTM for the Sunwolves loss...perhaps it's the jersey?
Rugby Tragic
Guest
I agree with your first line and last sentence ..... G'night ...
Old Bugger
Guest
With all due respect, I think that game is better forgotten, than discussed. Perhaps we've all been accustomed to seeing exceptional skill levels of inter-passing, off-loading, ball-in-hand rugby but, we all seemed to forget that the players, also have two legs and two feet. Tonight, we saw the outcomes of what two feet can do especially if the game-plan, is to kick all night. This was a rugby demonstration of desperation - 2 teams desperate for a win - becoming a win at any cost and unfortunately that cost, became a crazy kick-fest, at the lowest skill level imaginable. Like I said - its better to forget this effort and just acknowledge that the victor, is now recording a W, on the table and let's move on with the rest, of the round.
Mark
Guest
Shouldn't that read Highlanders gifted win by abysmal Blues team