Landers resist late Blues fightback

Landers resist late Blues fightback

26 May 2012

RYAN VREDE reports on a 27-20 victory for the Highlanders where they held out after a Blues rally.

There was plenty of ambition but very little precision about either sides’ play which made for a scrappy affair that the Highlanders edged because of their technical and tactical superiority as well as the clinical finishing.

There can be no question that Landers’ attacking threat has been significantly diluted in the absence of Nasi Manu, and to lesser extent James Haskell. Manu, injured against the Bulls last week, has been a constant source of momentum at the gainline, while Haskell’s industry and competency when carrying had been central to their success.

The Highlanders’ attack looked laboured and impotent in the absence the gainline dominance they had become used to, and it was no surprise their opening two tries came from broken field situations – the first to Tamati Ellison after the ball had been hacked ahead following a turnover, while the second saw Kurt Baker break and offload to Hosea Gear.

It would be remiss not to credit the Blues for their stifling and stealing the at the breakdown. They hadn’t looked this combative since their win against the Bulls at Loftus. If they had limited their errors in general play (numerous in great attacking positions) and kicked more accurately – the latter which cost them a try just after the restart – they could well have snapped their losing streak.

The Highlanders lead 15-6 at the break but scored directly from a poor kick-off that exposed the defence on the left-hand side of the field. Fullback Ben Smith – outstanding throughout – fielded the kick and danced through the scattered line before dishing off to Gear for his second try.

The game drifted from one flawed passage of play to another, but the Blues were galvanised by Ma’a Nonu’s injection into the contest. The midfielder’s impact was immediate and he threatened every time he was in possession. But the optimism he conjured was short-lived – an overcooked lineout in the Blues’ 22m gifting the Highlanders the four-try bonus point and effectively sealing the result with 20 minutes to play.

The Blues rallied well, props Tevita Mailau and Tony Woodcock scoring converted tries to set up a tense finish. But the Highlanders held on, and the Blues will lament their imprecision at critical times.


71 Comments

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  • 1.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 09:30 am

    Pops dragons.

  • 2.viewer: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 09:45 am

    Hi Dawn

  • 3.Dawn: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 09:48 am

    Morning

  • 4.viewer: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 09:49 am

    Wow some terrible hair on the blues

  • 5.viewer: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 09:56 am

    21 min – This match is going nowhere, fast
    Hurry up & wait

  • 6.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 09:57 am

    Go Blues….upset on the cards..

  • 7.viewer: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 10:01 am

    TRy? Weirdest 1 I’ve ever seen

  • 8.viewer: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 10:04 am

    These mixed martial arts head-lock ruck cleans must be banned

  • 9.viewer: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 10:08 am

    Bring on wrecking ball ma’a nonu

  • 10.viewer: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 10:10 am

    Neat try hosea gear

  • 11.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 10:14 am

    Hosea staying in Nz for 2013 season….wants an Ab jersey…

  • 12.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 10:18 am

    This season for Blues has hit rock bottom, no tin arrse Highlanders team should be coming to hallowed turf of Eden Park as favourites.

  • 13.viewer: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 10:21 am

    His bro was one of my fav players

  • 14.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 10:21 am

    This is depressing. Although a Stormer fan-atic through and though, the Blues always have been, currently are, and always will be the only other team who’s fortunes I really care about in Superugby. I had such hope this season. What is the latest word on the coaching setup for next year? When do interviews take place and wha’s the take on any possible candidates? That said,GO THE BLUES – 40 minutes to regain some glory.

  • 15.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 10:23 am

    yep…still can’t figure out who is better

  • 16.viewer: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 10:28 am

    I say rico. Hosea has a superior physique though

  • 17.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 10:35 am

    @viewer(viewer)-16:
    Rico ahead on skill, match winner Hosea

  • 18.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 10:36 am

    Rico Gear was probably the most naturally gifted winger of recent times. I couldn’t believe it when the All Blacks chose to take Doug Howlett to the 2007 RWC instead of him. And we all know how that turned out.

  • 19.Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 10:44 am

    tuigemala was the original freak

  • 20.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 10:47 am

    I would like to see John Kirwan as coach of the Blues for next season, or at least be on the coaching staff with Wayne Pivac. I would also like to see a few players let go after this season and a few to be left out of the squad in 2013. Would like to see a few more Northland players and a few more players from the draft and also to make a play at fringe players from other franchises.

    Would like to see a couple of imports for next season as well, Josh Strauss from South Africa, Juan Martin Hernandez of Agentina, the younger of the Whitelock brothers. We need an out and out openside pilfering number 7, so why not go for Marty Holah of Waikato?! We could have Holah, Whitelock, L. Braid with Strauss off as cover.

    It’s all wishful, hopeful thinking,

  • 21.chch: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 10:49 am

    from the Pat Lam lineout setplay book

  • 22.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 10:49 am

    hosea will always get pipped by the more multi-skilled players who are utility players

    this number 12 phil burleigh is a class act! MoM for me with Ben Smith close

  • 23.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 10:50 am

    Rico Gear was gifted with great skills on and off the ball, anyone remember a player of similar class that was unlucky not to have played alot more tests for NZ in Bruce Reihana? Great athlete.

  • 24.chch: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 10:50 am

    @CSI:Rugby(CSI:Rugby)-20:
    I would like to see Pat Lam coaching the Blues next season and for every season after

  • 25.RL: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 10:51 am

    Blues need Ali Williams to come on rough it up a bit to unsettle those green trees.

  • 26.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 10:55 am

    @chch(chch)-24: I bet you would, you have spare coach down there for us? Aussie McClean is with ABs, Rob Penney off o Europe, Deans with the Wallabies, Smith with Chiefs, Tabai Matson coming up through the ranks.

  • 27.Te Rangatira: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 10:55 am

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food(The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food)-14:
    Wayne Smith. Speculation that Pat may stay on, but not as Coach,
    Player recruitment is a joke,where are the ZinZan Brookes,Carloses,Black panther,

    @CSI:Rugby(CSI:Rugby)-20:
    Who is Josh Strauss?

  • 28.RL: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 10:56 am

    Yes

  • 29.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 10:58 am

    nonu making an impact

  • 30.BrumbiesBoy: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 10:58 am

    @CSI:Rugby(CSI:Rugby)-20: No problem concerning the players you’d like to see go next year, mate, there’ll be plenty of vacancies in Port Elizabeth…

  • 31.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 10:59 am

    @Te Rangatira(Te Rangatira)-27: The Lions Number 8, since the fifth franchise in SA is up for grabs, I would like to see the Strauss as a member of the Blues. Leadership, big engine, raw loose forward skills.

  • 32.chch: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 10:59 am

    @CSI:Rugby(CSI:Rugby)-26:
    Rob Penney is a big loss.
    I think the Blues should consider Carlos Spensor

  • 33.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 11:00 am

    glen jackson is piling the penalties on the highlanders & i hate it!

    It’s probably 16 to 4 now.. Fark!!

  • 34.Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 11:00 am

    I have seen a couple of fools this morning in the shopping centre wearing stormers jerseys.
    ag shame,hulle k ak is gebook.

  • 35.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 11:01 am

    nothing worse than a team that tries to make some kind of herculean effort after rolling around like puppies for the first part of the game.

    lions are masters of it as are the blues.

    its an interesting phenomenon, it would do well for someone to analyse this trait so coaches know how to cope with it, or maybe it starts with the coach?

  • 36.CSI:Rugby: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 11:01 am

    @BrumbiesBoy(BrumbiesBoy)-30: I’d take John Mitchell over Pat Lam to coach the Blues, now that’s desperation for ya.

  • 37.RL: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 11:02 am

    @chch(chch)-24: Mitch and Carlos will be jobless soon. Take them.

  • 38.chch: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 11:03 am

    I was at the Chiefs v Bulls game last night with seats on halfway.

    Great game I have not read this thread or seen any post match analysis but the Bulls looked hard done by a ridiculous no arms tackle about 6 minutes from full time. How did it look on TV?

  • 39.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 11:04 am

    for a kiwi side this blues side are shite shite shite.

    no angled running, everything at pedestrian pace,

  • 40.chch: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 11:05 am

    @RL(RL)-37:

    Not for me, for the Blues

  • 41.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 11:06 am

    Anyone who gives either of John Mitchell or Carlos Spencer another coaching job should be shot.

  • 42.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 11:08 am

    haha, piri tried to use his weight to get the ball down…

  • 43.chch: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 11:08 am

    I was at the Crusaders vs Blues game last week, now that was fun

  • 44.Fern is not a stud,he is merely no19: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 11:10 am

    carlos plans on staying in sa and opening a business,sa is a long term thing for him.

  • 45.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 11:11 am

    @rangerman(rangerman)-42: The problem was he was pushing the pitch down too, so the distance between the ball and the turf remained the same.

  • 46.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 11:11 am

    well done Highlanders!!!

    Fark glen jackson, nonu creeps around the ruck, the ref says ‘no no no’ he doesn’t stop & goes on to tackle but no penalty!

  • 47.RL: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 11:12 am

    All over rover. Now for the main event!

    Bring on those Leeusers.

  • 48.kaksioek: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 11:12 am

    Carlos is in the business of losing rugby matches, and business is booming.

  • 49.chch: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 11:15 am

    Congrats Highlanders

  • 50.rangerman: Reply to this comment
    26 May 2012, 11:16 am

    @kaksioek(kaksioek)-45: :lol:

    @Transformation(Transformation)-46: stop whining they got the penalty transie

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