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Highlanders heap more misery on Moana Pasifika
By AAP
The Dunedin, New Zealand-based Highlanders have dominated the second half after a tight and high-scoring first half to beat Moana Pasifika 45-17 in a sixth-round match in Super Rugby Pacific.
The teams went to the break with the Highlanders leading 19-17 after a half which saw five tries, three to the Highlanders.
The Highlanders extended their lead with four more tries in the second half and now have won three straight matches after starting the season with three defeats.
"Three wins in a row, that's awesome," Highlanders captain Billy Harmon said.
"We had a slow start but we knew that we were right there, we knew that we were going to build and our performances are just getting better and better.
"We've got belief in our game and it's awesome to see."
Moana Pasifika opened the scoring with a try in the fifth minute to Solomone Funaki.
The ball first went out to the left flank where winger Miracle Faiilagi ran strongly, then traveled back across the field for Funaki to score on the right.
The Highlanders hit back quickly with a try to Pari Pari Parkinson from a lineout. Hugh Renton carried the ball in a looping run round the back and Parkinson had the strength to drive into a gap and score.
Fullback Sam Gilbert ran into the backline and through stretched defense to extend the Highlanders' lead to 12-7 before Moana Pasifika again went ahead with a try to Levi Aumua who carried the ball strongly through tackles near the line.
Renton scored in the 26th minute to put the Highlanders ahead 19-14 and Moana Pasifika narrowed the lead before halftime with a penalty to Lincoln McClutchie.
The Highlanders had a strong second half with good phase play and one-off running among the forwards. The Moana Pasifika defense often was stretched by the serial nature of the attacks.
After strong lead-up play by Renton, Fetuli Paea scored in the the 51st minute and Folau Fakatava set up a t ry for Mosese Dawai with a dummy half and inside pass from scrumhalf.
Marino Makaele-Tu'u and Thomas Umaga-Jensen scored before the end of the match as the Highlanders secured a bonus-point win.
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It certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
Go to commentsHis best years were 2018 and he wasn't good enough to win the World Cup in 2023! (Although he was voted as the best player in the world in 2023)
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