Fortress mentality rekindles hopes

By WYNNE GRAY

HIGHLANDERS 45 BRUMBIES 19

Mix in some mighty defence with their Carisbrook mastery and an obliging television match official and the Highlanders' victory recipe resurfaced last night as they clung to their hopes of making the Super 12 playoffs.

All week the worry beads were cradled in Dunedin - concerns about injuries and damage to the Highlanders were voiced as the coaching staff worked the side into a fortress mentality.

The ploy was so successful the Highlanders were able to cast aside their stodgy attack to rattle in seven tries and notch their second bonus point for tries this season.

But the springboard for those tries was the blue wall of jerseys which stretched across Carisbrook, a line of demonic defenders who refused to wilt and perhaps more importantly, denied the Brumbies a bonus point.

It was a dramatic turnaround for the Highlanders, a victory driven by skipper Taine Randell. After his side was dismembered last week they are now fourth, two points clear of the Brumbies in the race for the fourth and final semifinal spot.

Initially it was the Walker-Mapusua show. Highlanders second five-eighths Seilala Mapusua was not held by Andrew Walker's attempted tackle, bounced up and fed Willie Walker, who scored and converted the opening try.

That gift was soon repaid when Mapusua tried to throw a pass round the Brumbies defence and only succeeded in giving it to Walker, who turned and sprinted 40m for the try.

From there the pattern became clearer. The Highlanders spent most of the half defending grimly against the clever attacks from George Gregan, Stephen Larkham and replacement Pat Howard. The home side was impressively stoic, they forced errors with their hits while the Brumbies also made crucial handling mistakes.

In the middle of the half the Highlanders got the benefit of two significant decisions. For the first, the TV match official ruled halfback Danny Lee had forced the ball among a maze of Brumbies' arms.

For the second, referee Andre Watson ignored claims for a penalty try when Walker played the ball on the ground to thwart the Brumbies attackers.

After those controversies, the captains answered with genuine tries. Randell sold a superb dummy to crown an important turnover before Gregan copied that gambit to send his side to the break just five points adrift and in a positive mindset.

But the Highlanders hit the restart with two rapid tries. Lock Peter Bowden had the first, courtesy of the TMO again, even though he signalled he had muffed the touchdown, before Iliesa Tanivula brought some chip-and-chase Fijian magic.

Then Brad Fleming finally got some room and scored twice to confirm the Highlanders' biggest win of the season.

The Highlanders are at home to the Waratahs next Saturday.

The Waratahs, who have the bye this weekend, are the only other side in contention for the fourth semifinal place.

The Brumbies face the second-placed Hurricanes in Wellington next Saturday.

Highlanders 45 (B. Fleming 2, W. Walker, D. Lee, T. Randell, P. Bowden, I. Tanivula, tries; Walker 5 con)

Brumbies 19 (A. Walker, G. Gregan, G. Smith, tries; J. Roff 2 con) HT: 19-14.