Rugby: Highlanders stun Waratahs

Lima Sopaga of the Highlanders makes a break, during a warmup, during the Super Rugby Match between the Highlanders and the Waratahs, at Forsyth Barr Stadium. Photo / Joe Allison

Highlanders 26
Waratahs 19

The GCSB have plenty of their hands on at the moment but they better venture south, because something mysterious is going on around this Highlanders mob.

They are somehow winning matches which they have no right to win.

Last week against the Chiefs, the Highlanders somehow grabbed a win despite having no territory, no possession and a scrum which was badly in need of some first aid.

Last night, they came up against a Waratahs side which looked to be working their way into some form.

They were stacked with class operators all over the paddock and, for the first 20 minutes, looked to have the wood on the men from the south.

But once again, the Highlanders, with three All Blacks, to the Waratahs' 14 internationals, came out on top.

They rely on their key men - Ben and Aaron Smith, Malakai Fekitoa and Nasi Manu - and goodness knows what is going to happen when they are rested. But they are only part of the equation which has helped them to three wins from four.

There is plenty to admire from the unheralded. The engine room is a mixture of solid grafters and honest toilers - a South African veteran, a bushy, bearded hooker who is trying to get back on the national radar and a couple of honest-as-the-day-is-long locks.

The Highlanders may have had been outweighed up front - most will be facing the Waratahs - but showed plenty of ticker and, more importantly, did not take a backward step.

Leading the way was Malakai Fekitoa.

His play just before halftime changed the momentum of the game and gave the side some much-needed self-belief. He took the dangerous Israel Folau in a ball-and-all-tackle and then passed the ball to flying Fijian winger Waisake Naholo who sprinted 60m to score.

It was a game-changer and straight after halftime the Highlanders put together a quick one-two punch which Joseph Parker would have been proud of.

New father Ben Smith ran a great angle off a ball from Lima Sopoaga and broke through a couple of ineffective tackles to score.

Three minutes later he was involved again in a sweeping move instigated by big winger Patrick Osborne. Smith broke down the field and after the home side moved the ball a couple of phases, Osborne got the ball and broke through jagged Waratahs defence to score the bonus point try.

The Waratahs tried to fight back but it was going to be the Highlanders' night.

Visiting prop Sekope Kepu also managed to get offside twice within a few seconds and was swiftly shown a yellow card by referee Craig Joubert.

From the resulting scrum, lock Tom Franklin went over to score the first try. That got the Highlanders ball rolling which did not stop.

Highlanders 26 (Tom Franklin, Waisake Naholo, Ben Smith, Patrick Osborne tries; Lima Sopoaga 3 cons) Waratahs (Nick Phipps, Matt Carraro, Stephen Hoiles tries; Bernard Foley 2 cons) Halftime: 14-12 Highlanders.