Who says rolling mauls are boring? OK, they really are boring. But they are a lot more tolerable when it is your side rumbling forward and scoring tries that way.
The Highlanders beat Moana Pasifika 37-17 at Forsyth Barr Stadium tonight.
Five of the six tries could be traced back to those thrilling mauls, not that the 7090 fans were too bothered by it.
The Highlanders’ opening win of the season came at a heavy price, though.
Just seconds into the game All Black loose forward Shannon Frizell went down with a knee injury and hobbled off.
Lock Manaaki Selby-Rickit joined him on the sideline 25 minutes later with a similar injury.
Selby-Rickit’s replacement Max Hicks made a favourable impression in his debut, and winger Mosese Dawai and reserve hooker Rhys Marshall bagged two tries apiece.
In a show of respect the Highlanders welcomed Moana Pasifika with a haka.
It was a nice touch, but the first touch for Frizell was not as kind. His night lasted all of 30sec.
Gareth Evans replaced him but the Highlanders had lost their best ball carrier.
But moments later the big man Ethan de Groot burst through several tackles to help set up the Highlanders’ opening try.
The home side swung back to the left and Mitch Hunt threw a nice skip pass, and winger Dawai scored in the corner in the third minute.
The visitors responded with a penalty to Christian Leali’ifano and a devastating break by dangerous winger Timoci Tavatavanawai saw Moana Pasifika swing back on to attack.
Second five Danny Toala got between a couple of defenders and slipped a nice offload to Levi Aumua to score.
The Highlanders had been kicking the ball away but switched tactics and got a lot of mileage out of the maul.
Hicks came on for his debut and stuck his head down with the rest of the pack when they drove over from a lineout.
Hooker Andrew Makalio had got in the boot and flopped over.
The Highlanders tried the tactic again in the final moments of the half.
Moana Pasifika had lost lock Veikoso Poloniati to the bin.
Somehow the visitors repelled a very well organised drive, but plan B saw to ball flicked to Dawai who dived over for his second.
The Highlanders led 17-10 at the break.
Makalio looked to have bagged his second from another lineout drive early in the second half. It was ruled out. There was a little forward pass in the movement.
But the Highlanders kept their opponent pinned deep in their 22 and eventually Marshall crashed over after peeling off a driving maul.
Moana Pasifika hit back. Leali’ifano floated a ball over the top to Tima Fainga'anuku on the outside.
It was right in the game but a second yellow card, this time for Alamanda Motuga, proved costly.
The Highlanders scored shortly after. Guess how? Yep, back-up halfback Folau Fakatava got over after another driving maul.
Highlanders 37 (Mosese Dawai 2, Rhys Marshall 2, Andrew Makalio, Folau Fakatava tries; Mitch Hunt con 2, pen),
Moana Pasifika 17 (Levi Aumua, Tima Fainga’anuku tries; Christian Leali’ifano con 2, pen)
Halftime: 17-10.
