Highlanders 15, Blues 19 (full time)

Their Round One fixtures did not treat these two teams kindly. The Blues messed up a promising halftime lead as they lost 20-34 at home to the Hurricanes, and the final score did the Highlanders’ sterling efforts little justice in a 17-32 defeat to the Crusaders.

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The Highlanders were unlucky.

Perhaps Andy Ellis’ try for the Crusaders should have been disallowed, since Jimmy Cowan was prevented from defending his goal-line when grabbed and held by Ben Franks, and they may feel aggrieved too about the referee – acting on the inaccurate advice of one of his assistant referees – disallowing what replays showed should have been a legitimate Adam Thomson try.

But while the Highlanders were enthusiastic and brave, in the end they were not quite good enough to win.

The Blues were so good in the first half against the Hurricanes but so ordinary in the last half hour, and the nine penalty-goals kicked by the Hurricanes told the story of the Blues’ lack of discipline, especially at breakdown.

Highlanders’ flyhalf Mathew Berquist and No.8 Nasi Manu have both been ruled out through injury for Friday. Michael Hobbs, who came on as replacement for Berquist, will start in the No.10 jersey and Steven Setephano will start at No.8.

Can coach Glenn Moore and skipper Jimmy Cowan raise the Highlanders’ standards from competitive opponents to winners?

Cowan said pre-season that this was the year for them to start winning and with the core of accomplished players they have at their disposal – and a bit of luck with key refreeing decisions – perhaps they can start winning this weekend.

Pat Lam has shown faith in his players, making just one change to the Blues’ starting line-up. Paul Williams has recovered from a head knock and is starting at fullback, with Rudi Wulf switching to wing in place of Rene Ranger, who drops to the bench.

Lam has backed his players to learn from the mistakes of last weekend and tidy up their play at the breakdown.

“I think it’s back to school and an understanding that there is low tolerance there [at the breakdown] and what the tackler does is quite crucial. If you look at the decisions last week, every decision was debatable. While you might have gotten away with it in the past they’re being pretty firm in that area now,” Lam said.

Lam denied suggestions that he had to salvage flyhalf Stephen Brett’s confidence following a mixed performance from his new playmaker last week, instead insisting the whole team needed to step up on Friday.

“Not at all, I thought for 55 minutes he [Brett] was probably the best first five in the competition. I think it’s a salvage call for the whole team really. There’s a collective responsibility and the key guys who run the game have spoken about it and they want to fix it this week.”

The teams will be playing for the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy, currently held by the Blues.

The Hunter family will be in attendance at the match to remember the man who coached both the Highlanders and the Blues before he died of cancer in 2001.

Super 14 results:
2009: Blues won 26-6 (Auckland)
2008: Blues won 40-15 (Dunedin)
2007: Blues won 28-9 (Auckland)
2006: Highlanders won 25-13 (Dunedin)

rugby365 Prediction: The combative Cowan leads a Highlanders’ team which will be hugely motivated to score a win in their first home game of the season, but the Blues probably have the better balanced combination. Six of the seven games in Round One were won away from home and this one is likely to go to the visiting team as well – perhaps by about 10 points.

Teams:

Highlanders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Jason Shoemark, 12 Jayden Hayward, 11 James Paterson, 10 Michael Hobbs, 9 Jimmy Cowan (captain), 8 Steven Setephano, 7 Alando Soakai, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Clint Newland, 2 Jason Rutledge, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.
Replacements: 16 Jason Macdonald, 17 Chris King, 18 Hayden Triggs, 19 John Hardie, 20 Sean Romans, 21 Robbie Robinson, 22 Fetu’u Vainikolo.

Blues: 15 Paul Williams, 14 Rudi Wulf, 13 Isaia Toeava, 12 Benson Stanley, 11 Joe Rokocoko, 10 Stephen Brett, 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Viliami Ma’afu, 7 Serge Lilo, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Anthony Boric, 4 Kurtis Haiu, 3 John Afoa, 2 Keven Mealamu (captain), 1 Tony Woodcock.
Replacements: 16 Tom McCartney, 17 Charlie Faumuina, 18 Filo Paulo, 19 Peter Saili, 20 Chris Smylie, 21 Daniel Kirkpatrick, 22 Rene Ranger.

Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand), Josh Noonan (New Zealand)
TMO: Kane McBride (New Zealand)

Tags: Super 14