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Top 3 players from the Highlanders v Reds Game in Round 14 of the 2023 Super Rugby Season

by Sports Benches

Shoutout to Freddie Burns on what has been an outstanding night at No.10 for the Highlanders. He too has been such a huge threat in the attack, particularly during the 2nd half revival including the game-winning conversion kick. His role dissects the ability to design their way past the Reds blocks in the hope of getting the job done that includes some physicality to unpack himself, having been given ample time thanks to the Reds injury struggles before his side touched down with these big scores a few times off the back of his work. And he’s happy to be here after a illustrious career in the Premiership, especially when he scored the winning drop goal also at the death in the final v Saracens last year for Leicester Tigers.

Speaking of last-minute heroics, how about we go with the Highlanders reserve half-back Folau Fakatava who scored the winning TRY with less than two minutes to go. He has made such a huge difference since he came on where Folau helped them overtook the Reds with the lead for the first time; Although the Reds stole back once more via the penalty goal shortly after but he too found a way to close them out just before full-time with the win. He boasts a mix of pace & physicality even though Folau might not be very tall just like his understudy Aaron Smith, as he learned so much from him that made Folau a long-term asset for the Landers. Now he & Freddie are hoping to surprise the Blues next week in the hope of having an extended run from behind soon.

And Harry Wilson has been excellent in the No.8 Reds shirt where he possesses a mix of pace & physical power that broke the Highlanders line at times along the way. He’s such an all-rounder that saw him win penalties/turnovers as being tested both in attack & defense. His attacking skillsets have devastated them the most though, having helped the Reds win possession where his side were able to get the job done throughout the opening half by staying ahead. Sadly, injuries to a few key players saw the Reds good start begin to collapse through only a few penalty goals before they were piped by the Highlanders towards the finish line at the last minute with the loss in Dunedin.

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Rugby News Australia, Highlanders left it very late while the Crusaders scored big that marked their first Super Rugby win of 2023

by Sports Benches

The Super Round weekend festival where all your weekend games on the one venue is back at AAMI Park in Melbourne starting off with the Crusaders v Highlanders. The Highlanders got away with a little boost via the penalty goal but it was the Crusaders who opened the account with a couple of big scores ahead of half-time, 24-3. Then the Saders couldn’t stop scoring a few more as this match goes on reaching their score of around half-century. Although the Highlanders finally responded with back-to-back tries very late, but the game already belongs to the Crusaders with a mighty win here, 52-15.

Gutted for the Highlanders who left it out so late, even though the game was already over as this match goes on. They fired off not bad thanks to the three-point penalty goal which gave them a bit of an early head start. But then they lacked the fight & discipline when trying to match the Crusaders’ standard, which remained them stuck at just three points for the majority. The only positive about them was the fresh faces off the bench later in the 2nd half that them finally gain some ground towards full-time, particularly half-back Folau Fakatava who has been superb when setting up the attack for Josh Timu’s back-to-back tries. They should start him if the Highlanders were to get themselves back on track this season.

And good to see the Crusaders return to winning ways following their opening-round defeat last Friday v Chiefs on their home turf. They were great to watch that made them being one of the best Super Rugby sides to watch as always. The response and their attacking football has been brilliant to see while building a big lead with three tries in the first half & another three big scores later in the second 40. Now they do have to stay vigilant at times, having faltered before full-time despite a big lead which is something the Saders need to watch out this season. However, their first win of 2023 means there is still unfinished business left when it comes to chasing another Super Rugby championship.

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Rugby News, Top 3 players from the Crusaders v Highlanders in Round 2 of the 2023 Super Rugby Season

by Sports Benches

David Havili has been amazing to watch on the inside midfield position for the Crusaders last night. He has explosive physicality and power that helped his side extend their lead in between the half-time break. Not only he’s such a decent team player like adding some more meat when pushing further via driving maul, but he can set up conversions when it comes to collecting these big points – such as that little kick where Richie Mo’unga chased & touched the ball down well just within the TRY Line & also a TRY himself not long later thanks to Mitchell Drummond. He’s able to achieve just all of that when as long as the Saders are on the right track where the damage can be done which was marked as mission accomplished.

Codie Taylor didn’t put a foot much wrong where was extraordinary at hooker for the Crusaders last night. Some of the tries they’ve executed that helped them pull off further from the Highlanders are from line-outs. The throw-ins has been excellent as always, then he orchestrates the driving maul where he read the opposition well while bringing his own men to help push them through with more physicality. That way, he knows where to get the job done & his contribution has been one of the few finest moments during their huge win v Highlanders, having lost the season-opener game last Friday at home v Chiefs.

And gotta say that Folau Fakatava made a big impact off the bench that created some fortunes for the Highlanders with 10-15 minutes to go. Love how he sets up the attack & being patient while building these phases going forward, so he can design some shortcuts with that little kick where Josh Timu scored his first TRY of the night there. Then he looked after the scrum really well where Fakatava passes one to Timu’s midfield partner Thomas Umaga-Jensen before he finds Timu again who scored another TRY in the 78th minute. Now he hopes to start at No.9 from now on as there’s so many qualities he can unpack if given the chance, especially when he gained some All Blacks experience v Ireland last year.

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Rugby News, Top 3 players from the Queensland Reds v Highlanders Game in Week 12 of the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific

by Sports Benches

One of Highlanders turning points during their 2nd half comeback is Folau Fakatava, who came on for Aaron Smith at half-back with 25 mins to go, and made an instant impact ever since. He was simply outstanding when Fakatava planted one assist and a TRY that helped his team move back on the Playoffs bubble in 8th spot with three regular games to go. He’s 22 with plenty of potential to be like Aaron over the next few years where Fakatava can be a real menace to defenders, especially when the Reds began to falter in the 2nd half and he took advantage of their decline that became his show on the pitch.

Next up is fellow Highlander Scott Gregory on the left wing at No.11. He credits the hard work from his forwards pack, who identified the Reds No.1 weakness which is the 2nd half and their finishing momentum. It gave them ample time to work things out with the ball before one Highlanders support runner covered the Reds up defensively, while Gregory did some damage where he laid an assist to Thomas Umaga-Jensen, as well as a TRY off the Folau Fakatava’s back hand pass that saw the Highlanders regain the lead later in the 2nd half. He just simply controls the game when dominating the attack with pace, as his services will be important towards helping his team stay in the Playoffs area with three regular games left.

And Lawson Creighton have no problems filling-in for the injured James O’Connor at the No.10 Reds shirt, where he played just like him when they were firing in the first half. He’s 23 with plenty of physicality to orchestrate the attack, such as that quick offload on the left short side to Jock Campbell, as well that cross kick also on the other short side to Josh Flook. These two scored tries all thanks to Creighton’s creative work, who is willing to learn and try to keep starting every week, so the Reds can continue to function with better competition in the years to come. But there’s still work to do when it comes to the 2nd half spell when they began to falter before the Highlanders came back to bite them.

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Rugby News Australia, Highlanders overcame two yellow cards to haunt the Reds in a senational comeback at Suncorp Stadium

by Sports Benches

It was another close match-up last night in Week 12 of the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific at Suncorp Stadium. Queensland Reds fired off as always in the first-half where they just held on a two-point lead at half-time, 12-10. But it’s the Highlanders, who overcame two yellow cards earlier on to a sensational comeback in the last 40-45 mins, that puts them back in the Playoffs bubble in 8th after their 19-27 win.

Queensland need to work on their 2nd half spell where the momentum just wasn’t the same as the 1st half; it’s has always been the case since they first faced NZ teams back in Week 10 v Hurricanes. They came from a long way when the Reds had to deal with injuries from James O’Connor, Hunter Paisami & now Taniela Tupou. And they managed to cope for half the time without them on the field, thanks to the team spirit installed by head coach Brad Thorn. It’s maybe some inexperienced players need on their toes when it comes to the 2nd half run, where the result may be different if JOC, Paisami & Tupou weren’t injured. However, these players can improve without their main men if they’re able to put on a full show, that will define the Reds’ position on the ladder with three regular games left.

And the Hurricanes may not have a great first 30-35 mins where they not only lost one but two men via the yellow card, as the Reds took control at the time. But they were back up and running though when it comes to playing a full XV, as well as a few changes off the bench that changed everything. The brilliant work from their forward pack made the backline’s life easier to execute, thanks to the Reds finishing weaknesses when the opposition’s fired off momentum began to falter. Then some fresh legs from Folau Fakatava competed the Highlanders comeback, where he was sensational with a TRY back pass assist to Scott Gregory followed by a TRY himself. And that is match-winning quality from the replacement half-back, who came on for Aaron Smith in the 55th minute.

The Highlanders will kick off Week 13 at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin next Friday when they welcome the Western Force from Perth. Meanwhile, the Reds will need to group their team spirit together for the full 80, if they want to shock the Blues at Eden Park next Saturday in Auckland.

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