Fijians provide the magic for Highlanders' win over Stormers

UPDATED - 11.30pm

Two lethal Fijian wingers, Aisea Tuilevu and Seru Rabeni, helped the Highlanders to a 41-17 win over the Stormers in an entertaining Super 12 rugby match at Carisbrook today.

The Highlanders scored six tries to three as they claimed their second successive win of the season.

Tuilevu and Rabeni were the stars of the show, with both scoring two tries and frequently posing a threat to the Stormers' line.

It would be false to say the Highlanders completely dominated the match, but they appeared a fitter side and always looked more likely with the ball in hand.

A key to their performance was bruising lock Filipo Levi, making his first start of the season, who was damaging around the field and led a staunch defensive effort.

Captain Taine Randell and hooker Anton Oliver both proved their class in a pack that was not as dominant as the scoreline suggested.

Out wide, the Highlanders used Rabeni and Tuilevu to great effect.

Rabeni scored the opening try after 16 minutes when the Highlanders regathered a Willie Walker bomb, and Tuilevu grabbed the second following a superb run by Paul Steinmetz.

On the stroke of halftime, Ryan Nicholas and Levi made good ground before Walker scooted over the tryline to give the Highlanders a commanding 22-0 lead.

Tuilevu was sin-binned for a professional foul in the 51st minute and the Stormers capitalised, scoring tries through lock Quinton Davids and second five-eighth De Wet Barry.

The Highlanders' lead was down to 10 points but that quickly changed when Steinmetz was driven over by his forwards for a try, and Rabeni's long reach brought him a second five-pointer.

Springboks Pieter Rossouw and Breyton Paulse then combined to get Paulse a well-deserved try, before the Highlanders completed the scoring with a Tuilevu try just before fulltime.

"That's a pretty good win for us," Highlanders captain Taine Randell said after the match.

"The Stormers got some momentum when Tui was binned, and we probably helped them by giving away some silly penalties.

"But I think the Stormers might be a side that will shock some teams, so we're happy to get maximum points against them."

The Stormers had enough ball to challenge the Highlanders but did not have the same finishing power.

Midfielders Robbie Fleck and Barry looked in fine form, however, while big No 8 Adri Badenhorst and lock Selborne Boome were the standout forwards for the South Africans.

In the end, the Stormers simply made too many mistakes and could not cope with a motivated Highlanders team cheered on by about 18,000 fans.

The Highlanders should continue their fine start to the season when they meet the Bulls in Invercargill next week.


- NZPA


Highlanders: Tries: Seru Rabeni (2), Aisea Tuilevu (2) Willie Walker, Paul Steinmetz. Cons: Walker (3), James Arlidge. Pen: Walker.

Stormers: Tries: Quinton Davids, De Wet Barry, Breyton Paulse. Con: Gaffie du Toit

Halftime: Highlanders 22-0