The Highlanders had won one game heading into this fixture and were languishing at the bottom of the Super Rugby Aotearoa table.
Few people would have backed them to pull off a victory over Scott Robertson’s Crusaders. The Crusaders had not lost a game until now and were heavy favourites to win this encounter.
They were playing at home, and the Crusaders had won their last seven consecutive fixtures against the Highlanders. Overall, they have won 29 games, lost 11 and drawn one since 1996 against the Highlanders.
However, things started well for the Highlanders with five-eighth Mitch Hunt converting a penalty in the 12th minute to give the Highlanders a 3-0 lead. Hunt converted another penalty in the 19th minute to extend the lead to 6-0.
The Highlanders then took the lead into double digits with flanker Billy Harmon barging over the try line in the 24th minute. The play involved four passes and 12 phases. Mitch Hunt converted the try to take the lead to 13-0.
Six minutes before halftime, Hunt made the Crusaders pay for their ill discipline as he converted another penalty. The visitors led by 16-0.
The home side finally hit back through the hooker Codie Taylor, who scored in added time. Richie Mo’unga converted the try to have the Crusaders trailing the Highlanders by nine points at the break.
Another penalty gave the Highlanders a 19-7 lead in the 52nd minute. Then centre Michael Collins crossed the line and Mitch Hunt converted the try. Aaron Smith executed a smooth pass to Collins, who crashed over the line.
Aaron Smith (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)
The Highlanders led by 26-7 at the 59th minute. A late David Havili try gave the Crusaders some hope. However, those hopes vanished in the 74th minute, when fullback Connor Garden-Bachop latched onto a loose ball and scored the third Highlanders try to seal the deal for the Highlanders.
Hunt converted the try to give the Highlanders a 33-12 victory over the table toppers. It was a major upset in the context of the tournament, which has opened up a bit.
Mitch Hunt was excellent for the visitors as he scored 18 points, had ten runs for 82 metres, beat six defenders, made three clean breaks, and made a tackle.
Flanker Billy Harmon had an excellent game, scoring a try, making nine carries for ten metres, beat three defenders, made four passes, made 13 tackles and won a turnover.
The Crusaders will rue the fact that they conceded 13 penalties and conceded 21 turnovers as opposed to the Highlanders’ 11.
The Highlanders play the Chiefs at home next Saturday, while the Crusaders travel to Wellington to play the Hurricanes next Sunday.
Phantom
Roar Rookie
Defiantly weak at 9 10 and 11 14 and 15.
OtakiCraig
Roar Rookie
Yeah we’ve been bypassing Foxton for years
OtakiCraig
Roar Rookie
Lighten up Paola the self professed ex-Kapiti coast resident
Come on Paulo, The Saders have earnt the fans reactions by being the best over many years and should wear with honour that they are a target...It doesnt mean as much to beat a side ranked well below you as it does to beat a side ranked well above you and at the present point in time the Saders are no 1 in NZ and SR rugby......They SHOULD be a target...Teams have to want to beat them and the teams fans should also be just as desperate to see their team beat them as well...
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Agreed, I would never support a tee-shirt like that. Even if you swapped Australia with England... ok, maybe I might, but I’m only human.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Paulo, I hear you. I always found it a bit sad to hear about the t-shirt getting around Auckland- “I support 2 teams -the All Blacks, and anyone playing Australia”
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Don’t get me wrong, I think it was great too... sucks that it was my team, but then we have had it pretty good for a while, so swings and roundabouts. As for non-crusader NZ fans, they have always been there waiting for the inevitable fall, just like the non-NZ rugby fans waiting for the AB fall. I just wish we would focus on the positive achievements rather than celebrate in the failures of others. My view is that it’s sad that NZ fans should wish for the failure of other NZ teams. We should be able to wish for success without tying it to the failures of others. And yes, I do realise one might not happen without the other, but there is a difference between cheering for a winner and hoping for a loser.
woodart
Guest
yes, downtown foxton beach doesnt agree with otakicraig. thank goodness we will be able to bypass otaki very soon.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Of course, Paulo. It’s human nature. But it was funny listening to a non-Crusader NZer rant (like an Aussie) bout the Saders. We are all human as they say in PNG. But this game was great for super rugby.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
I think the ‘rub of the green’ is more pronounced when the team wins. Which admittedly happens more often than not with the Saders and the ABs. If a team loses, you tend not to focus on the decisions that went their way. Case in point - the YC that wasn’t from the kick off, we haven’t heard a whisper about it really, but imagine if the Crusaders had won - especially if it was close - we would still be going on about it. The perception is always way more powerful than the actual; what ever the game you’re watching. How many incorrect ruck entries or offsides were not called for the Highlanders? Who knows, but it was more than Zero. Ref decisions go both ways, you just typically only notice them when you lose.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
I can’t ‘remember’ all my picks but I know they were wrong.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Guilty as charged Paulo. I have a mate in Queenstown so have the Highlanders as my NZ team. He was upset just after the kick off with the non-yellow decision and decided to delay his viewing. I had no idea that he hadn’t watched it when I texted through congratulations. (I was happy too with the result) So I almost spoiled the watching for him but instead of getting upset with the ref when it bounced wrong he calmly watched the happiness unfold. The way he spoke of the Saders getting the ‘rub of the green’ with the ref etc, I had to quip- ‘Yeh we sometimes play a team like that - we call them the All Blacks” :happy: Congrats to all southern folk today.
moaman
Roar Guru
Nah mate.....I would have had egg on my chin too had I not missed the Tipping...... :thumbup:
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Oh no Moa! Are you going to quote tipsters back to themselves? This could get embarrassing.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
I have a soft spot for the Canes, but geez I hope they do face the fury next week and the ship gets righted.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
He certainly has time on his side, and if this current RWC is beyond him right now, if he stays in NZ and grows further, you would think he would be the front runner for the next. He just needs to put in more performances like he did last night. He was phenomenal. Didn’t put a foot wrong all night.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Yea, like I said this wasn’t a dig at you. I grew up on the Kapiti coast so Hurricanes always have a soft spot for me - even if it was waaaaay before the idea of SR was even born. And I get why people want the Crusaders to fail, but it doesn’t make it easier to read repeatedly. We should be celebrating with the Highlanders, completely written off by essentially everyone except themselves. I view the game last night with very mixed emotions, loving it for the Highlanders, who always seem to be the perennial underdogs, and hating it for complete capitulation of the Crusaders.
Andy J
Roar Rookie
Mitch hunt last night looked good, can he produce it regularly though, he has two years to develop
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
Mate when you have such a strong team people like to see they’re human. I back the canes and want them to win every time. Feel happy for the Highlanders as it was a good result for them
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
BB still has a few years in him and I like him better because he doesn’t make as many mistakes. I’d start with BB and bring RM on in the 2nd half. You are correct though there isn’t a lot next and it’s an area that needs development