The Highlanders’ opening-night clash against the Crusaders loomed as a potential Friday the 13th horror show for the hosts, but by the time the final whistle blew the All Blacks-stacked reigning champs had been dispatched in a fairy-tale ending for coach Jamie Joseph.
Joseph’s men were staunch in a matchthat improved in quality and intensity as it powered to its 25-23 conclusion.
Going into the Super Rugby Pacific opener, the Highlanders had won only one of their past 11 Super matches, while the Crusaders had lost only one from 11.
Added to the ominous setting, All Blacks breakout star Fabian Holland was last week ruled out of the Highlanders’ campaign before the action had even kicked off.
The visitors, meanwhile, arrived with 11 All Blacks in their ranks and the luxury of starting Will Jordan and front-rowers Codie Taylor, George Bower and Fletcher Newell on the bench.
Nonetheless, the hosts bagged the first points, Cameron Millar hitting three after a tackle infringement in the first minute.
Highlanders players celebrate a try against the Crusaders on Friday night. Photo / Photosport
Smart breakdown work in the opening 15 minutes – with Jack Taylor, debutant Lucas Casey and Timoci Tavatavanawai prominent – got the Highlanders clear of early Crusaders surges.
But it was Caleb Tangitau, picking up on a handy break from fullback Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, who sparked the scoreboard into further action. The right winger skinned two defenders on a 20m blast to the tryline.
Noah Hotham, gamely sporting a new Slim Shady hairdo, got the Crusaders back into the match with a clever 30m blindside break that followed a midfield 50/50 bomb gone wrong for the Highlanders.
Referee Angus Gardner involved himself smartly, giving crisp directions to keep players clear and the ball in play.
There were first-half lineout wobbles for the Highlanders, and first-night jitters all round, with 17 handling errors across both teams before the break. The Crusaders would have most to rue, with cold hands blowing decent opportunities that might have pushed their halftime lead out further.
Nonetheless, they went to the break 10-8 up, after Rivez Reihana closed the half with a penalty. He opened the second with another regimental three-pointer.
Joseph rolled the dice and got a reward early, opening the second 40 with props Ethan de Groot and Angus Ta’avao coming off the bench. The latter capitalised from a rare Highlanders’ surge into the Crusaders’ 22, dotting down near the posts for a converted try to snatch back the lead.
Co-captain Tavatavanawai, playing his 50th Super Rugby Pacific game, was powerful and accurate throughout, his brute strength and deft hands sparking the break that led to midfield partner Jonah Lowe scoring another converted try in the 48th minute.
With the visitors chasing a nine-point lead, coach Rob Penney hit the big black button, rolling out his beefy front-rowers and the gassy Jordan, who grabbed the ball on his first touch and set off on a 50m break that typified the energy and pace of the second half.
Highlanders Caleb Tangitau scores against the Crusaders in the Super Rugby Pacific opener in Dunedin. Photo / Photosport
Jordan was quickly in everything. On his second notable touch, he skipped through three tacklers to score from a standard scrum-pass move in the 61st minute. The Highlanders’ video team will surely have some pointers from that defensive effort. The next touch brought a length-of-the-field break from a mark and 10 minutes later Reihana was banging over a three-pointer from a high tackle on the nippy outside back.
The 23-22 lead should have been enough for the Crusaders. But Codie Taylor, perhaps carrying a little summer rust as he had moments before fluffed a straightforward pass to set up an outside break, put in a late, silly body check on fullback Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, who was on a chip-and-chase dash.
Millar pinged the 79th-minute penalty from 40m out, leaving the Highlanders pack to hold on until the 82nd minute to turn a horror show into a fairy-tale ending.
