Highlanders run riot in Smith's landmark appearance
Malakai Fekitoa scored a try in each half as Highlanders thrashed Rebels 51-12 in Aaron Smith's 100th Super Rugby game on Friday.
Highlanders had to come from behind to beat Brumbies last Saturday, easing to victory at a canter six days later in Dunedin against a Rebels side that has now lost five in a row.
New Zealand scrum-half Smith pulled the strings in his landmark appearance as Tony Brown's men put on a show despite the absence of injured captain Ben Smith, running in six tries at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Rebels made far too many sloppy errors in the first half and were somewhat fortunate to only trail 20-0 at the break after Fekitoa powered his way over and Luke Whitelock took a lovely offload from Tom Franklin to go under the posts.
#Legend pic.twitter.com/dC7EsVNRDL
— The Highlanders (@Highlanders) March 31, 2017
Richard Buckman and Gareth Evans also got in on the act with five-pointers after the break as Rebels continued to be guilty of basic errors, while centre Fekitoa helped himself to a double with a late intercept try.
Tom English and Reece Hodge came up with consolation tries for Rebels, but they were blown away and Marty Banks' 19-point haul with the boot ensured Highlanders racked up a half-century as they coasted to a third win in four games.
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Hi Nick. Thanks for your +++ ongoing analysis. Re Vunivalu, He’s been benched recently and it will be interesting to see what Kiss does with him as we enter the backend of SRP. I’m still not sold.
Go to commentsIn the fine tradition of Irish rugby, Leinster cheat well and for some reason only known to whoever referees them, they are allowed to get away with it every single game. If teams have not got the physicality up front to stop them getting the ball, they will win every single game. They take out players beyond the ruck and often hold them on the ground. Those that are beyond the ruck and therefore offside, hover there to cause distraction but also to join the next ruck from the side thereby stopping the jackal. The lineout prior to the second try on Saturday. 3 Leinster players left the lineout before the ball was thrown and were driving the maul as soon as the player hit the ground and thereby getting that valuable momentum. They scrummage illegally, with the looshead turning in to stop the opposing tighthead from pushing straight and making it uncomfortable for the hooker. The tighthead takes a step and tries to get his opposite loosehead to drop the bind. Flankers often ‘move up’ and actually bind on the prop and not remain bound to the second row. It does cause chaos and is done quickly and efficiently so that referees are blinded by the illegal tactics. I am surprised opposition coaches when they meet referees before games don’t mention it. I am also surprised that they do not go to the referees group and ask them to look at the tactics used and referee them properly. If they are the better team and win, fair play but a lot of their momentum is gained illegally and therefore it is not a level playing field.
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