Highlanders overcome bad week in Republic

Highlanders 30
Stormers 15

The Highlanders overcame an extremely disruptive week - half the squad fell ill - to score their second consecutive win in South Africa yesterday.

While happy with the result, coach Greg Cooper indicated there would be hard work in the forwards this week before they faced the Bulls in Pretoria on Sunday.

"We know it's a difficult assignment to win in South Africa and we are very pleased with the way it's gone so far," Cooper said.

"We don't want to complain, but we probably left a bonus point out there tonight as well.

"We've drafted a couple of big, quick outside backs this year and I think we showed that we can play a different type of game. I think we are growing as a team and we are growing in confidence."

He said he wasn't entirely happy with their lineout and captain Anton Oliver said the last quarter took some gloss off their victory.

Instead of pressing ahead for their fourth try in that period, and thereby earning a bonus point, they allowed the Stormers to score their second try through replacement first five-eighth Naas Olivier. But by then the Highlanders, who beat the Cheetahs 17-12 last week, had the game and four points wrapped up.

The two try scorers last week, winger Roy Kinikinilau and replacement Richard Kahui, were prominent again on the scoreboard yesterday, with Kinikinilau scoring two - in the seventh and 36th minutes and Kahui in the 67th.

Fullback Ben Blair kicked 15 points from three penalties and three conversions.

Cooper felt his team butchered several opportunities and should have nailed a fourth try at least.

"We didn't have the patience. They came back at us in the last 10 or 15 minutes which was a bit disappointing to me."

Oliver said his players tried to do too much at times and in the process lost their composure.

"But two wins here [South Africa] is a fantastic outcome," he said.

Midfielder Seilala Mapusua was at his incisive best and made things happen each time he was in possession.

He broke the defence several times and brought his outside backs into the game which enabled Kinikinilau to score twice for their 17-10 halftime lead.

"He gave us a lot of go-forward," Cooper said.

"He created opportunities for others with his game."

For the Stormers, it was a third home match without a win following a loss to the Waratahs and a draw with the Brumbies.

"We just made too many mistakes and we weren't good - that's the bottom line," Stormers coach Kobus van der Merwe said.

"I'm not going to make any more excuses. The buck stops with me."

As the match wore on, the 35,000 crowd became increasingly agitated with the Stormers and a chorus of boos rang around the stadium.

Stormers replacement Olivier scored a consolation try in the final minute.

- REUTERS