ODT Online rugby writer Jeff Cheshire looks at some of the key points from the Highlanders' 32-20 win over the Force.
Played poorly, still won
This was not a memorable performance from the Highlanders. They dropped ball, forced too many passes, fell of defence and in general could not get much to work. But they still won by 12 points. Forget that it was against a team ranked low on the table. Everyone has weeks where they are not on top of their game. If you can get a win out of those matches, you are doing alright. The Force came to play and started strongly, kicking well, taking gaps and bringing physicality. But the Highlanders wore them down and did enough to get the win. All things aside, it is hard to complain with five wins from the first six games.
Set-piece good again
The biggest positive for the Highlanders was undoubtedly the way the set-piece functioned. Once again the scrum was dominant and remained so when changes were made. The lineout was slick too, the jumpers being hit and the ball generally being clean. In contesting the lineout the Highlanders got up well, with Elliot Dixon having a good showing near the front in the second half. Despite everything else, if you can get your set-piece to work like this, you always give yourself a chance to win.
Was pace too fast?
The Highlanders played the game at a frenetic pace. With ball in hand they looked to keep play alive, rushing passes and showing a lack of composure. They took multiple quick taps from penalties and went quickly at lineout time whenever they could. But it might have been too much. It resulted in a lot of mistakes, whether they came from passes or offloads that were not on, or just straight dropped balls.
Turning over that much ball prevented the Highlanders from gaining continuity on attack, which in turn meant the Force were not under a great deal of pressure. They still scored a handful of good tries and seeing as they have players who can make one-off breaks, they are still capable of doing that without applying pressure. Sometimes a bit of composure goes a long way though, particularly given the success they have had with their kick and chase game in recent weeks.
Did losing Sopoaga influence tactics?
When you lose a key player like Lima Sopoaga it is always going to hurt you. But the tactic to run the ball and keep up the pace looked like a pre-determined one from the Highlanders. Back under the stadium roof and playing against a team that has faded late in games, it was not unexpected. Not only is it one they have used there in the past, they are a team that likes to show they can play different styles. From that end, it is hard to say missing the first-choice pivot was the reason were messy. Hayden Parker slotted into a team that was clearly playing to an instruction and filled his role within that. If anything it was Aaron Smith inside him that was trying too much, but we all know what a quality player he is. In saying that, you would not want to lose Sopoaga for too long.
Shocking start
At 14-0 down the Highlandres were looking shaky and when the Force nearly scored a third try not long after there would have been more than a few nerves around the ground. They did right themselves though and while they remained messy, the intensity lifted. Early on they still seemed in warm-up mode. The first try saw the cover looking very casual in getting back, putting themselves under pressure, which led to the poor decision to offload and practically gift the Force their first try. That had the flow-on effect of costing the Highlanders a bonus point.
Injuries
The injuries piled up in this game and as a result, the game itself took over two hours. After having already lost Sopoaga, they then lost two props in the first half and Elliot Dixon twice to the blood bin. Dan Lienert-Brown was able to return, which was a positive as the uncontested scrums were not going to work in the Highlanders' favour. Ben Smith left the field and subsequently failed a concussion test, which is something no Highlanders fan wants to hear. Likewise the Force lost a handful of players, including Angus Cottrell who was stretchered off wearing a neck brace.
Picking up that many injuries in a game is rare, although will only become more common as the hits become harder and harder. How you deal with losing players is what is important though and given the Highlanders' squad depth, they may be less affected than other teams.
Brilliant try on counter
The Highlanders are capable of creating something brilliant from anywhere on the park and they did just that with their second try. Attacking from deep in their own half, they ran strongly, supported play and linked up well to ensure the Force defence could not stop them. That is what this team can do and one of the reasons they are so dangerous.
Gaps in defence, missed tackles
The Highlanders' defence, which has been so good in recent weeks, was exposed too many times. Either first-up tackles were missed, or holes popped up in the middle, which the Force ran good angles to take advantage of. That left the Highlanders under pressure, forcing them to scramble and often defence with a disorganised line. They can do this well, although you do not want to give the opposition too many chances running at a back-pedalling defence. At times the line speed was evident and there were no doubt some very solid hits. But in general the accuracy from the Highlanders was not at the level it has been at over the past month.
Three-man lineout
So far this year the Highlanders have shown us five and seven man lineout sets. On Friday night they brought in a three-man set, providing yet another variation to an already good lineout. It operated well too, as they got good ball off the top to get to their backs.
The advantage of a short lineout such as this is it provides more ball-running options in the backline, while also having more players nearby to support at the breakdown. However, it does mean that there is less space, as the opposition has more players to spread across the field on defence. Variation is good though and gives the Highlanders yet another weapon, making them harder to prepare a game plan against.
