All Black hopeful guides Highlanders to thrilling win over Crusaders

FRIDAY WRAP: All Black frontrunner Jamie Joseph masterminded an attacking Highlanders to a thrilling 25-23 win against reigning Super Rugby champions the Crusaders on Friday.

Cameron Millar’s penalty goal from halfway with two minutes left sealed a see-sawing victory at Forsyth Barr Stadium on the opening night of competition.

Joseph is one of two favourites for the All Black coaching job vacated by Scott Robertson’s axing last month, two years out from the World Cup.

He has plenty of work to fix a shaky Highlanders line-out and some questionable kicking from his playmakers, but his vow to allow his team to play attacking rugby was evident.

The Highlanders opened the scoring after two minutes when Millar slotted a penalty from close range.

The Crusaders won the ball back twice early from errant line-out throwing, and another scrum win against the feed.

Despite their set-piece woes Caleb Tangitau extended the Highlanders’ lead in the 15th minute with the first try of the season, beating two markers on the right flank to cross from 30 metres out.

The Crusaders started to settle into the match and responded five minutes later, Noah Hotham keeping the ball at the back of a ruck and running in down the right touchline.

Rivez Reihana added a penalty on the stroke of half-time to give the Crusaders their first lead of the game, 10-8 at the break.

Angus Ta’avao regained the lead for the Highlanders five minutes into his debut for the team, the prop coming off the bench at half-time and bustling over next to the posts.

Jonah Lowe added the Highlanders’ third, Timoci Tavatavanawai sparking a break from inside his own half.

Crusaders coach Rob Penney turned to his bench immediately, All Blacks Codie Taylor, Fletcher Newell and Will Jordan among those introduced.

Jordan took 10 minutes to get on the scoresheet, crossing after a slick set play to reduce the deficit with 19 minutes remaining.

Taha Kemara added a penalty with eight minutes left to restore the Crusaders’ lead, before Millar’s penalty to seal a dramatic win for the home team.

Jorgensen double helps Waratahs to Super derby win

The Waratahs have broken the shackles to open the Super Rugby Pacific season with a rousing 36-12 derby win over the Queensland Reds in Sydney.

Wallabies’ wonder winger Max Jorgensen dazzled with a double but it was NSW’s new-look forward pack that caused most of the carnage as the Waratahs snapped a four-match losing streak against their arch rivals.

After losing experienced Test stars Taniela Tupou, Angus Bell, Dave Porecki, Rob Leota and Langi Gleeson from their engine room this season, inspirational newcomers Pete Samu and Clem Halaholo and naughty boy lock Miles Amatosero provided the Waratahs’ grunt on Friday night.

Replacement half Teddy Wilson added the icing to the cake with NSW’s fifth try in the penultimate minute to secure a precious bonus point in front of delirious home fans at Allianz Stadium.

The 36-12 triumph, also featuring five goals from as many attempts from flyhalf Lawson Creighton, was only the Waratahs’ second win from their past 10 matches against the Reds since before COVID.

In reality, the Waratahs could have won by much more.

After spurning multiple opportunities at penalty goals, the Waratahs’ confidence paid off when powerhouse flanker Clem Halaholo bulldozed over on debut for the opening try of the night in the seventh minute.

Halaholo turned culprit, though, when his loose pass near halfway landed in the hands of Reds flanker Joe Brial, who toed the ball ahead for lightning winger Tim Ryan to score Queensland’s first try in the 20th minute.

Returning from a two-game suspension for laying out teammate Angus Scott-Young in an infamous training bust-up last month, Amatosero looked a man on a mission.

After finding himself in open space for a 30-metre burst, Amatosero dived over a ruck in search of NSW’s second strike.

The referee wouldn’t allow it but sin-binned Queensland No.8 Vaiuta Latu for offside at the ruck as new Reds captain Fraser McReight pulled off two miraculous try savers on Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Halaholo in the space of 20 seconds to keep the Tahs at bay.

Making his NSW debut at age 31, new Sydney-born skipper Matt Philip decided enough was enough and instructed Creighton to finally take the three points on offer to nudge his side ahead 10-5.

Jorgensen lit up the stadium when he burnt Reds fullback Jock Campbell with a huge sidestep, then out-paced the cover defence of flyhalf Louis Werchon in an electrifying play a minute before half-time.

Just when the Tahs figured they’d take a 12-point lead into the break, the Reds stole possession after the halftime siren had sounded and Brial somehow crossed in the left corner.

Queensland would have been delighted to only trail 17-12 entering the second half after the home side dominated much of the opening 40 minutes.

The second half was a scoreless affair until replacement prop Isaac Kailea forced his way over in the 65th minute to give the Tahs some breathing space.

When Jack Debreczeni’s pinpoint cross-field kick found the fingertips of flanker Charlie Gamble loitering on the wing, the flanker conjured a magical offload off the deck for Jorgensen to bag his second of the night and seal victory.

Wilson’s late try sparked joyous celebrations for the home team and fans.

See below for Friday’s scores and scorers!

Friday, February 13:

Highlanders 25-23 Crusaders

The scorers:

For Highlanders:
Tries: Tangitau, Ta’avao, Lowe
Cons: Millar 2
Pens: Millar 2

For Crusaders:
Tries: Hotham, Jordan
Cons: Reihana, Kemara
Pens: Reihana 2, Kemara

Teams:

Highlanders: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Caleb Tangitau, 13 Jonah Lowe, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Cameron Millar, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Lucas Casey, 7 Sean Withy, 6 Te Kamaka Howden, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 4 Oliver Haig, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Jack Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: 16 Henry Bell, 17 Josh Bartlett, 18 Rohan Wingham, 19 Will Stodart, 20 Veveni Lasaqa, 21 Adam Lennox, 22 Reesjan Pasitoa, 23 Tanielu Tele’a

Crusaders: 15 Chay Fihaki, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Braydon Ennor, 12 David Havili, 11 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 10 Rivez Reihana, 9 Noah Hotham, 8 Christian Lio-Willie, 7 Ethan Blackadder, 6 Dom Gardiner, 5 Jamie Hannah, 4 Antonio Shalfoon, 3 Seb Calder, 2 George Bell, 1 Finlay Brewis.
Replacements: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 George Bower, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Tahlor Cahill, 20 Corey Kellow, 21 Kyle Preston, 22 Taha Kemara, 23 Will Jordan

Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant referees: George Myers, Matt Kellahan
TMO: Graham Cooper

Waratahs 36-12 Reds

The scorers:

For Waratahs:
Tries: Halaholo, Jorgensen 2, Kailea, Wilson
Cons: Creighton 4
Pen: Creighton

For Reds:
Tries: Ryan, Brial
Con: McLaughlin-Phillips

Teams:

Waratahs: 15 James Hendren, 14 Harry Potter, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Joey Walton, 11 Max Jorgensen, 10 Lawson Creighton, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Pete Samu, 7 Charlie Gamble, 6 clem Halaholo, 5 Miles Amatosero, 4 Matt Philip (captain), 3 Dan Botha, 2 Ethan Dobbins, 1 Tom Lambert.
Replacements: 16 Folau Fainga’a, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Siosifa Amone, 19 Angus Blyth, 20 Leafi Talataina, 21 Teddy Wilson, 22 Jake Debreczeni, 23 Triston Reilly.

Reds: 15 Jock Campbell, 14 Lachie Anderson, 13 Josh Flook, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Tim Ryan, 10 Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, 9 Louis Werchon, 8 Vaiuta Latu, 7 Fraser McReight (captain), 6 Joe Brial, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Josh Canham, 3 Zane Nonggorr, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Aidan Ross.
Replacements: 16 Richie Asiata, 17 George Blake, 18 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 19 Seru Uru, 20 John Bryant, 21 James Martens, 22 Finn Mackay, 23 Xavier Rubens

Referee: Paul Williams
Assistant referees: Angus Mabey, Michael Winter
TMO: Graham Cooper

AFP & AAP