Highlanders v Drua
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@frugby said in Highlanders v Drua:
Just reading through the match pack: https://super.rugby/superrugby/match-centre/match-packs/2025-rd9/2025-rd9-highlanders-v-fijian-drua/
This stat seems absurd to me... "The Highlanders have gained 161 metres more per game than they’ve allowed their opposition this Super Rugby Pacific season, the most of any team in the competition; in fact, no other team has outgained their opponent by more than 50 metres per game."
Someone who is smarter than me might be able to interpret this, but I read this as we are making plenty of metres, so the issue is that our loosies aren't getting to the ruck quick enough... OR does this mean we have guys doing to much individual stuff, inadvertently running away from their support?
That stat analysis is really interesting. Carry metres, defenders beaten and offloads are top four but try success rate is 10th and line breaks is 8th. So the attack while seemingly ambitious and results in beaten defenders, doesn't result in clean line breaks and tries. If you then look at individual stats, you see that the carry metres and defenders beaten is dominated by Tavatavanawa, Tangitau, and Nareki.
You can also see the value of Hastie's kicking and offloading game.
What is also promising is the dominance of Howden and Dunshea in the lineout. In combination with Holland and Haig, the Highlanders really should have the most dominant lineout.
Tackle success, turnovers won and conceded, line out success, scrum success (assuming would be higher if not for the decisions in the Brumbies game) show the set piece and the defence (fifth best points conceded) are working well. But we also four players in the top most penalised players.
What is worrying is kicks from hand, penalties conceded, red and yellow cards, and ruck success (11th!) You have to wonder with all the stats that are so favourable to the highlanders in terms of tackles made and dominant tackles from the locks and loose forwards, they run out of gas on the offensive side and can't hit the rucks with the same vigour.
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders v Drua:
Loft was actually named to play for Taieri today so if he ended up playing in that game it could end up being a big day for him
Looks like he scored two tries for Taieri as well. Hayden Michaels is out for the season I heard on Paul Dwyer's Club Footy show.
Really looking forward to seeing Haig and JRK returning.
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Great start for the Clan, but that last pass deserved a review I thought.
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@antipodean back out of the hand clear as day…
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Jeez we only have four fit/available loose forwards. Bit of a crisis there.
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Outstanding from Millar to tee that up defensively. Followed up by great work by Fakatava
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@Landers92 said in Highlanders v Drua:
That’s definitely hit dead. Didn’t Strange do that last season and got yellowed ?
No it wasn't, both jostling for the ball, he just couldn't get it clean. You'll only see it if you lift the eye patch for a couple of seconds...
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@Bones said in Highlanders v Drua:
@Landers92 said in Highlanders v Drua:
That’s definitely hit dead. Didn’t Strange do that last season and got yellowed ?
No it wasn't, both jostling for the ball, he just couldn't get it clean. You'll only see it if you lift the eye patch for a couple of seconds...
lol ok big man, I only saw the back angle and it looked like he pushed it dead.
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@Bones said in Highlanders v Drua:
The fuck was that Fakatava. I'd be tempted to hook him immediately for that...
Two passes and we scored and he decides to play sevens instead.
Henry Bell has been shrugged off a couple of times.
