Rugby: 'Most complete performance of year'

Highlanders hooker Jason Rutledge looks to break through the tackle of Jeremy Tilse. Photo by NZPA.
Highlanders hooker Jason Rutledge looks to break through the tackle of Jeremy Tilse. Photo by NZPA.
Highlanders coach Glenn Moore believed his side put on its best 80-minute performance of the season in dispatching the Waratahs last night.

"It was the most complete performance of the year. We've had a couple of other games where we have played particularly well but not got the result," Moore said.

"The message we sent out at halftime was to get back to our plan and stick to it. We just had to stay with the ball, be patient, and stay positive."

He felt the conditions had an impact on the game, but the Highlanders made the most of a good start.

The Highlanders checked the weather forecast just before kick-off and thought the wind would pick up in the second half - which it did - so elected to play into the wind in the opening 40 minutes.

Hooker Jason Rutledge said the team was playing a simple game plan of hitting the Waratahs in close, and that confidence grew after the team got off to a strong start.

"We'd taken plenty of positives out of the game against the Hurricanes, which showed we could move the ball around and back ourselves," Rutledge said.

He said a couple of poor throws still blotted his game.

Waratahs coach Chris Hickey said the Highlanders did the basics well, and his side was edged at the breakdown.

The game was an arm wrestle, but a poor kicking game from the Waratahs did not help their effort, Hickey said.

 

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