Opening round of Super Rugby 2020: the Highlanders are at home to the Sharks on the ridiculously early date of February 7.
One look at the announced back line that day filled me with more dread than when the stadium added a wellbeing section to the food options.
In the same back line were Mitch Hunt, Josh Ioane, Josh McKay, and Jona Nareki. All fine players but none of them are getting in their local pub basketball team. To add to the vertical woes, then-coach Aaron Mauger sent them out with a game plan that revolved around chasing high kicks into Shark territory.
Lining up opposite them were a Sharks side not only impressive in height but as athletic as anything in the comp and they had an absolute day out.
Not only was the dominance in the air absolute but as they ran the ball back – and they did this a lot – at their smaller counterparts, a lack of technique, courage and desire saw the Sharks race out to a lead and a comfortable away win ensued.
Rebalancing the Highlanders backline with some bigger bodies has clearly been a priority for coach Tony Brown this year but another horrible run of injuries saw last Saturday’s line-up include three of what we will designate ‘The Shark Four’ against a Blues side full of heavy ball carriers and flashbacks to 2020 came flooding in.
But it was not to be.
(Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)
The Highlanders have always relied upon taking players from other unions, getting them to buy into the local area and how we play, and elevating their skills above expectations, and Brown appears to be treading this path again.
After rolling the Blues, most rightly pointed to the dominance of the Highlanders’ loose forward trio, the scramble defence and inventive kicking game as the key positives but actually staying in this match came down to a series of one-on-one tackles by the Highlander little guys against far largely opposites when any error in technique or courage would have seen tries conceded.
Jona Nareki on Dalton Papalii was the last man as early as the sixth minute, Josh Ioane floored rampaging namesake Reiko Ioane only ten metres out early in the second stanza and shortly after, Mitch Hunt levelled Caleb Clarke near the line in a contest you couldn’t get a bet on if it had been in a boxing ring.
But perhaps the biggest metaphor for the day was Aaron Smith catching Hoskins Sotutu at the base, and evening him out while Billy Harmon stole the turnover, leading to a Josh Nareki score in the corner.
This one action epitomised not only the extraordinary efforts of the Highlander little guys on the day, but sadly the second season syndrome that appears to be afflicting the once-exciting Sotutu.
A quick final word on the always stupendous Aaron Smith: even when he got picked off by that excellent read from Jonathon Ruru, you find yourself thinking: “That was still one hell of pass he threw.”
The Highlander big men stood up in the face of a forward filled with All Blacks, but the little fellas’ individual actions ensured that the Blues had to work harder than they would have expected to keep that scoreboard turning and were key in the southern men recording a fine win.
Faith
Roar Rookie
Shane Williams
Highlander
Roar Guru
Bgga Dominici.....only joking :laughing:
Highlander
Roar Guru
Good memory Carlin, Toma was our only man of size in the backs that day I did an article last year on how increasing numbers of replacements has exploded the size of players…..will se did If can find it, it’s astonishing Backs from 82kg to 95kgs in 20 years off the top of my head New directives will hopefully begin to reduce body sizes overall It’s good to see the boys showing some ticker, but we are running out of cattle with injuries now. A good base for next year.
Highlander
Roar Guru
Technique no good without heart though BF Like you I wish they could coach pace, but sadly small gains only
Carlin
Roar Rookie
I have a feeling this was the game, I commented on one of your articles about Tima Fainga'anuku being very one dimensional in this game and looked like he was playing. You responded along the lines of they needed a big boy playing direct to counter the big South African players which made sense. I always hope the little man can still be a key factor in a game of rugby. There are some excellent players who are small in stature around the World such as Faf De Klerk, Cheslin Kolbe and Aaron Smith. The essence of the game has always been it is a game for all shapes and sizes. I would be interested in seeing what the average backline size of a player has increased to over the 25 years or so of professional rugby. I remember the 1999 World Cup Wallabies team most of their backline (apart from Gregan and Larkham) were close to or over 100 kgs. The Highlanders have shown some real guts this year mate. The win on the weekend has really opened the competition up.
Rugby wizard
Guest
All time favourites 1.Neill Back 2.Brent Russell 3.Jason Robinsen 4.Dominici
Busted Fullback
Roar Rookie
G'day Highlander. The three requirements of any player, technique, courage, pace. Sadly for me, as a little fella, you couldn't be taught pace or courage. Technique on the other hand...well...I had some good teachers along the way, my Dad mostly, and I found that with the good techniques came confidence. I was able to approach every game I played with the same confidence in my skills and applied those skills in a way that may have looked like courage to the outsider. Me? Well I just knew I could do the job required. Still wish I could have learned more speed.
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
A good topic to which I add one comment: Stu Forster.
Armchair Halfback
Roar Rookie
Yes, I was impressed with Billy Harmon and Frizell was at his rampaging best. Not to mention - Fakatawa, not many can claim to get picked before Aaron Smith...
Machooka
Roar Guru
Ah, the old 'poetic license' thingy... :laughing: :laughing: :thumbup:
Highlander
Roar Guru
Re Marino Mikaele Tu'u'- He got stood down for the whole breaking team protcols thing a few weeks back. Hard to get a start in that Highlander trio right now, but he us still there or thereabouts.
Highlander
Roar Guru
"Ummm, regards the ‘local pub b/ball team’ thingy… some of the very best in this game are the little blokes." Just a bit of imagery for poetic license Chook :laughing:
Machooka
Roar Guru
Thanks H'lander... enjoyable read :thumbup: Yeah, sometimes it's not so much the size of dog... but more the fight in the dog! :happy: Ummm, regards the 'local pub b/ball team' thingy... some of the very best in this game are the little blokes. Yep, those so-called vertically challenged blokes and especially when going downhill. Their first step will leave most 7 footers with broken ankles on their way to the basket and a score. Can't touch what ya can't catch... :laughing:
Armchair Halfback
Roar Rookie
Nice work Highlander! Often the little blokes have great soft skills and better place over 20 metres plus the capacity to step defenders without losing speed. Nareki's a lovely player in that mould. I must admit I've watched less SR Aotearoa this year just because I've been busy elsewhere, so I haven't witnessed Sotutu's lapse in form. I watched the Crusaders v Highlanders game a few weeks ago - surprised Marino wasn't playing - he was amazing in the ITM cup for Hawkes Bay.
mzilikazi
Roar Pro
An article every day now, Highlander ! Great stuff ! The "wee men" will always have a place in the game. Plenty around right now in the top echelons of the game......Faf de Klerk, Cheslin Kolbe, Damian McKenzie, Richie Mo'unga, Jordan Larmour. Harder to find them in the forwards, but Hamish Watson springs to mind first up. And then there was that English "pest" Neil Back. If you take a really close look at these "wee men", many are very strongly built, have developed their physique in the weights room as well. De Klerk and Kolbe are very strong. I was struck by how solid Jordan Larmour now is, watching him wrestle down in the corner for the try in the recent Leinster v Exeter clash. The other factor is speed. These men are all very fast over the critical first 10 - 20 metres, and have great balance to add to the equation. Kolbe's try in the RWC Final a prime example.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
You've just reminded me of a great piece of commentary by Scott Stevenson during another Highlanders v South African match in Dunedin, when Kolbe vainly tried to stop Naholo 2m out from the line. "Naholo's just turned Kolbe into Swiss cheese!"
Highlander
Roar Guru
Three very big tackles, good technique and courage kept the Highlanders in the game. Massive improvement on last year
Highlander
Roar Guru
I reckon that was the game that started his demise - it was so disjointed between selection and tactics
stillmissit
Roar Guru
I am always impressed when rugby little men stand up. In my early days I played with some backs and a half who were small. They had more guts than some of the big guys ie me and there speed on a wet track (there was plenty of them) was always more than enough to keep our scoreboard ticking. It is a game for all sizes and I am pleased to see the little guys getting the appreciation they deserve.
JD Kiwi
Roar Rookie
I remember that match. The clan were awful before the lockdown but that was a particularly embarrassing Mauger disaster. I'm quite happy that we don't have to play you again for a while, we got you just in time! Thanks for beating the big guns for us!