The Highlanders will look to build some consistency and return to the winners circle when they host the equally up and down Brumbies. Join The Roar for live scores from 5:35pm (AEST).
It’s been a rough first half of the year for the New Zealand outfit, with the Highlanders falling short of the mark in close games on more than one occasion.
The Highlanders sit with a three and two record from their first six games, which leaves them fourth in the New Zealand conference – definitely not the place they would like to be sitting.
Despite that, the season isn’t over yet. They do need to start winning, and winning well, but it’s far from over in terms of making a run at the wildcard spots for the finals.
They have played the least amount of games of any team in the Super Rugby competition and while that sits up a taxing second half of the season, they can quite easily rise up the table and compete for the top spots.
The Highlanders went down to the Chiefs in their last outing a fortnight ago in what was a close game, while the match before that saw them drop to the Hurricanes. Neither performance was great, but with three wins on the trot before that, they simply need to lift their level and rediscover that form.
Like the ‘Landers, the Brumbies have been far from poor this season. As we hit the halfway point of season 2018, they sit third in the Australian conference with a three and three record.
Inconsistency has struck them across the course of the season so far, with a loss to the Waratahs and a thumping win over the Reds headlining their last fortnight of competition.
The 24-point loss to the Waratahs brought up insecurities in their defence, but when they play well, the Brumbies are a hard side to stop, as evidenced with their big win over a struggling Reds outfit.
Prediction
With home ground advantage, the Highlanders won’t surrender this game easily. I’d expect them to pick up the victory in a close, hard-fought game against a gallant Brumbies outfit.
Highlanders by 5.
Be sure to join The Roar for live scores of the match from 5:35pm (AEST) and don’t forget to add a comment in the section below.
dopplerman
Guest
what are you talking about pocock has no neck
Marty
Guest
Can't believe the prediction was the Landers by 5. Picked the team but the margin was massively optimistic.
Muzzo
Guest
Mate it was happening quite a bit from time to time Akari. Not only neck rolls but high shots, by both sides.True the officiating, was not that great, but the Landers were on the receiving end of a 12 - 2 penalty count in the first half .Another thing that wasn't picked up, was the same sort of . tackle put on Sapoaga, before he did his, & was sent off. The culprit in that case was Fianga, where after it happened, they both were involved in a set to, in back play. Yeh, the standard of officiating wasn't good, by all involved, but at the end of the night the better team won. In fact, both Pocock & Dixon, were at it from almost, as soon as Dixon came on as a replacement, where Pocock at the start, seemed to be trying to assert his authority. He did meet a very good challenger, who didn't succumb. Try watching the game again, especially from when Hunt was replaced by Dixon.Worth having another look. Cheers.
Akari
Guest
Still a terrible neck roll on Poey by Dicko, Muzzo, and deserved a card. Poor officiating by ref and TMO on that occasion. I didn't notice a neck roll on AS and poor officiating again by the ref and TMO if it happened. Just because AS was allegedly neck rolled doesn't however make it right for Dicko's one on Poey. It's disgraceful and there is no place for it in rugby today.
Muzzo
Guest
Thanks for the info Highlander, as the return of Marty Banks would be a plus. Then again, young Josh Ioane, given a season or two, will no doubt develop into a very good first five. Credit must be given to our rookie Cantab coach, whose game plans, have been executed very well in most of the contested games.Let's hope he can keep on going. Cheers Bro.
Muzzo
Guest
Yes Ken, but that's where you have it over us, is the consistency of clueless pronouncing. Not only our native tongues but also other nations.
Muzzo
Guest
Lol Highlander!! haha
Muzzo
Guest
Hi T/man, yep, also pretty wrapped about Elliot Dixon, playing all over Pocock.
Muzzo
Guest
As was our scrum, moaman, till we had it sorted out.
Muzzo
Guest
Well Highlander, Lima's sending off, was as bad as that tackle on him by Fianga, ( excuse the misspelling) before he was sent off. That was why they both ended up having a little disagreement in back play. Then again we were hit heavily in the penalty count, so it doesn't say much for Agreed comments
Muzzo
Guest
The neck rolling, was definitely not observed as it should have been, but it did affect both sides, Agreed. Did you not notice the neck roll on Aaron Smith? Although it's wrong both sides were affecting it.
Muzzo
Guest
IMO Highlander, the first stanza, showed up, how the Landers, were a little off their game. Well they have had a couple of weeks off, & it showed. The second stanza, was more like the lads we know, with passes sticking, & play in general a lot better. In fact, much better. So many stand outs, with Bender, Lima, on return from his enforced spell, Hunt, & notably his replacement Elliot Dixon. What a game. In the backs, well Thompson did play very well as did some of the others. Cheers.
Highlander
Guest
Was very impressed with Maugers game plan Muzzo, just kept moving that Brumby defence around until the gaps opened up and then executed. Ben Smith was very good in all aspects of the game, Franklin had a huge game in tight I thought, and what a shame we are losing Lima at the end of the season. ( grapevine says discussions with Marty Banks have already begun)
Muzzo
Guest
Completely overshadowed by Elliot Dixon Misha.
Muzzo
Guest
Geez a great display by Hammington last night Highlander.
Muzzo
Guest
A good game by the Landers, who really in the first half, showed that their lay off over the last couple of weeks, did make them appear a little rusty. Once they returned after the break, they did lift, their game, with the MOTM, Bender, standing out. After Dillon Hunt was replaced, in a game that he did perform well against his illustrious opponent, the performance of Elliot Dixon, was so impressive, who IMO,had it all over Pocock. who did come off second best, after the initial sorting out period. Bloodied, & seeing Pocock slightly confused, one wonders as to why he wasn't sent off for a HAI. Not a good look for the ref & officials. Didn't Lima, make it up for his sending off, on returning to play?
Baz
Guest
This game seemed to follow the same script that has played out for the last 2 years. We looked a good thing up until halfway thru the second half. Brumbies forwards got tide and our replacements had little or no impact. Highlanders swing the the ball to the opposite side of the field from deep with in their own half and get a run away try against a team exhausted from their own offensive efforts. OR Defensive pressure from the Kiwi's results in our halves throwing low percentage passes or kicks that are picked off and once again shifted wide to a back line with space and time. Did we actually learn anything from this game? Tactically Oz teams tend to crumble in the last 15 minutes that result in an otherwise close game becoming a blow out. There is no fight back. The Kiwi's grow and become energized while we sadly give up. The forwards got things nearly right. The backs were average.
Baz
Guest
And the cut out passes...
Ken Catchpole’s Other Leg
Guest
Sadly, Highlanders the commentators were clueless pronouncing the other way. Wagga Wagga? Getting Richie Arnold’s name wrong etc. Oh well.
Fin
Guest
Lost mine