Landers edge bumbling Blues
20 Apr 2012
GARETH DUNCAN reports on the Highlanders’ 30-27 win over the Blues in Dunedin.
This loss against the Highlanders was the Blues’ fifth consecutive defeat and their sixth in seven fixtures this season. For the hosts, it was a crucial victory as they aim to follow through with their early momentum in the competition to secure a play-off place – which they failed to do in 2011.
But the win didn’t come easy for Jamie Joseph’s men.
The Highlanders edged ahead for a three-point advantage via a late try from replacement fullback Kurt Baker, who took advantage of poor ball marking by the Blues in their red zone. The pill was allowed to roll over the tryline by Rene Ranger and Baker dotted down before the wing. Replays showed that Baker pushed Ranger off the ball, but this was not picked up by the officials.
The Blues were then awarded a penalty in a kickable position – with only two minutes left on the clock. They had the chance of drawing the game with the shot at goal or to pursue the try for victory. The visitors decided to take the second option and kicked for touch. However, they were met by a resilient Highlanders defence, who easily restricted the Blues. They held on to their slim lead for the win.
The Highlanders will credit their ascendancy at the breakdown battle for this victory – on attack and defence. They were the dominant side in the scrap for possession at the tackle points, with strong counter-rucking and a resilient forwards presence giving them the upper hand. Flyhalf Mike Delany, who made a return after a season in Japan, added structure to the Highlanders’ backline play and boasted an accurate boot to convert seven of his nine goal attempts for a haul of 20 points.
The Blues lacked composure with ball in hand, but they showed some promise on attack. One of those came in the opening moments of the match as early pressure forced the Highlanders to commit a handling error. From that favourable field position, the visitors spread the ball across the park and stretched the opposition’s defence for fullback Hadleigh Parkes to find space out wide.
The Blues failed to capitalise on their early try, as the Highlanders hit back through a try by inside centre Shaun Treeby (thanks to a break by Hosea Gear) and a Delany conversion and penalty. Blues flyhalf Gareth Anscombe and Delany traded penalties as the Highlanders led 16-14 at the break.
The kicking contest continued in the second stanza as the Highlanders hung on to a 22-20 lead, before the Blues scored an impressive try via Ranger. Through patient build-up play from their heavies, Ranger was allowed to power through from close range.
The Blues have earned a reputation for their inability to close out the tight games this year, which was the case again in this fixture as the Highlanders fought back for victory after a Delany three-pointer and Baker’s try.
The Highlanders will celebrate their position in the top four, while the Blues struggle at the foot of the table. These are dark days for the Auckland franchise.
130 Comments
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20 Apr 2012, 11:12 am
Geez…Bryce Lawrence….cant believe I am seeing that doos on a rugby field again…
20 Apr 2012, 11:16 am
Bryce Lawrence is clueless – every decision he makes, he cant look the players in the eye. Its because he has no clue man…he knows he is doing a job that he is totally unqualified for. P@#$
20 Apr 2012, 11:18 am
Come on Blues, get a try on fulltime!!!
20 Apr 2012, 11:18 am
Even a penalty or drop goal will at least give you a draw!!
20 Apr 2012, 11:19 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-91:
I believe you are on record for stating that all players who want to be considered for the Boks should play rugby in SA.
How does that influence your decision on FDP (playing in Japan) and Matfield (playing in…no wait…not playing rugby at all?)
And both these players are now considered as possible captains?
20 Apr 2012, 11:20 am
How long is it going to remain on 79 minutes?
20 Apr 2012, 11:20 am
@Todd W(Todd W)-88:
looks like you were right.
rugby hey….
20 Apr 2012, 11:22 am
Ag shame, Blues.
20 Apr 2012, 11:23 am
@houston, we have a problem…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-107: See, you just have to BE-LIEVE!!
Believe and all your dreams will come true! Maybe at the expense of the dreams of the Blues players and supporters, but that’s not your problem! That’s the fault of the Blues players who are suffering from such bad karma they must have annoyed a very powerful and vengeful deity at some point!
20 Apr 2012, 11:26 am
Norway has one of the highest quality of life according to all recent studies.
I’m starting to think scandinavians have some sort of genetic advantage. They are advanced people with a progressive culture.
20 Apr 2012, 11:26 am
Bryce doesn’t have a clue when it comes to the breakdown. He is a joke on the rugby field and its crazy to think someone as incompetent as him is there.
20 Apr 2012, 11:27 am
@willievz(willievz)-105:
Yes, my view is that we should pick locally based Boks. But the reason is not because I want them to prove themselves here, it is because I want to make it difficult for them to leave.
Meyer seems to differ on this issue.
This would not apply to the Matfield situation in any case, as he would play local rugby prior to captaining the Boks – if he does indeed make a return to the Bok team this year.
20 Apr 2012, 11:28 am
@SteveWarren(SteveWarren)-111: New Zealand’s referee of the year 2011.
20 Apr 2012, 11:31 am
@Dusky(Dusky)-100: there was lot of water in Norway when i went there and i loved it
20 Apr 2012, 11:31 am
@viewer(viewer)-110: Awesome place.
20 Apr 2012, 11:32 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-114: Ag, I suppose as long as you dont need to swim – you’ll be ok.
20 Apr 2012, 11:33 am
Superbru points!!! Had Landers by 3!!
20 Apr 2012, 11:34 am
@SteveWarren(SteveWarren)-111: It is disgraceful. Its even more disgraceful to Kiwi rugby that he was chosen as New Zealands referee of the year.
He is absolutely clueless. Watch him carefully next time – he looks everywhere but at the players when he makes a decision. He has absolutely no confidence in himself at all.
20 Apr 2012, 11:37 am
@viewer(viewer)-110: Yes – If they had inhabited a country with a warm climate, virtually unlimited arable land, rich veins of precious metals, gems, minerals and some of the most tourist worthy coastal towns in the world – they would probably have by far the biggest economy in the world.
20 Apr 2012, 11:41 am
@Dusky(Dusky)-118:
Perhaps refs should wear gimp suits to protect their annonymmity.Bryce could borrow yours.
20 Apr 2012, 11:46 am
@Dusky(Dusky)-116: the Norwegians i swim with @ Port St Johns reckon i’m quite good.
20 Apr 2012, 11:53 am
@Tacitus(Deucalion)-99:
Ja but Tac your own spew went back to 2007, 2008, 2009
We did not lose our games because of Smit.
The spew was simply not objective.
Which is exactly what you are accusing the Stormers boys of doing now.
Remember Matfield was an important leadership part of the side that failed.
He does not get off scott free because he was not captain
20 Apr 2012, 12:03 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-121: Sure.
@THE MAULER(THE MAULER)-117: Brilliant !
@Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-120: Or your moms ?
20 Apr 2012, 13:06 pm
$100 at 31/1,at the start of the season on the ‘landers,getting excited.
20 Apr 2012, 14:07 pm
@Dusky(Dusky)-101:
Just beautiful to see Brycie again.
It is always a pleasure to see Brycie whistle a match. Always fair, always accurate. Always ballanced.
We love the Guy.
20 Apr 2012, 14:09 pm
@dermie(dermie)-124:
You are getting your money’s worth Dermie…………………………………………whatever the end result. Good Luck.
20 Apr 2012, 14:14 pm
@Dusky(Dusky)-118:
Shut your whinging trap princess.
If you have nothing good to say about Sir Brycie, leave, turn of the TV.
20 Apr 2012, 14:24 pm
@Hurricane(Hurricane)-127:
Brycie will be the IRB’s Head Honcho of Referee’s within 4 yrs.
He is that talented.
Sure, he has had one average game,
but even in that game,
he was average to both sides equally.
Love this Guy.
20 Apr 2012, 14:29 pm
Blues suffering from the Blues?
20 Apr 2012, 14:51 pm
@cane(cane)-128:
Yep.
Cannot argue against that post.
I believe the main problems some of the Bok supporters have is they know Brycie is a great ref but dont like him cos hes Kiwi.
It plain and simple, look at Carter and McCaw. How many on here call them cheats and useless etc.
If these two guys were South African….. not a peep,they will be in the Bok team.
lol the buggers, soon they will be just as bad as the Ozzie and claim everthing that the Kiwis invented and call it Austalian….. Pineapple lumps anyone?
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