Naholo double puts Highlanders back in the race
Not only did the burly wing score a brace in a 26-13 win over the Chiefs – tournament leaders before the weekend's Round 11 matches – but he also made a number of big plays in a cracking game Hamilton, including inning some crucial turnovers.
The result means the Chiefs have lost their place at the top of the Australasian conference to the high-flying Crusaders and the defending champion Highlanders moved back into contention after losing ground in the last few weeks.
The match at the sold-out Waikato Stadium was thoroughly absorbing, befitting their status as two of the very best non-Test teams in the world. It was one of those matches when suddenly there were three minutes left and that was a surprise. It was game to get lost in.
It was also a game that the visitors deserved to win. They were better organised, had vigorous defence and scored three tries to two, the second of the two scored in the 79th minute.
One was filled with awe watching the Highlanders' defence against one of the best attacking teams in the world. It seemed that they had three times as many defenders as there were attackers, as they were always there in numbers. The Highlanders aggressive defence made the Chiefs look ordinary – Damian McKenzie apart – and they won the turnovers and the penalties till a succession of three late penalties enabled the Chiefs to get their second try scored by substitute Sam Vaka, his one and only touch of the ball in Super Rugby. The match ended when Waisake Naholo put a bit of foot on a touchline as he went over for would have been his hat-trick try.
It was a great match played on a perfect pitch. There were cowbells, thank goodness, though they had less reason to clatter than usual.
The match started with lots of kicking from both sides, though better by the Highlanders. Early on the Chiefs reigned. They had the possession, they went through phases, and they scored – a penalty goal by Aaron Cruden when Ash Dixon went off side, near the posts and five metres from the Highlanders' line. 3-0 after 4 minutes. And still the Chiefs attacked till gradually the Highlanders got downfield and advanced in phases from a line-out till Brad Weber, who had a fine match in contest with Aaron Smith, was penalised at a tackle and Lima Sopoaga equalised with a penalty goal. 3-3 after 12 minutes.
From now on the Highlanders were on top and built their score. They took the lead when Mitchell Graham was penalised at a tackle and Sopoaga goaled before going off for a concussion test, which he passed. 6-3 after 24 flying minutes.
The first try came when the pressured Chiefs knocked on and the men from the south went right, left and right again, till the ball fell to ground in a bit of wonky handling and suddenly a comet flashed in Hamilton, for loosehead prop Daniel Lienert-Brown picked up, threw a dummy to his right and raced 23 exhilarating metres to score a try that any back would be proud of. Sopoaga was off and Marty Banks converted. 13-3 after 31 minutes.
Just before half-time Charlie Ngatai, such a handful for defenders, was yellowcarded for his part in Elliot Dixon's crashing to ground.
At half-time the Highlanders, defending Super Rugby champions, led 13-3.
The Highlanders scored first in the second half when Patrick Osborne raced down on the left to set up a bashing session. They then went right where the bulky Fijian, Waisake Naholo bumped off Damian McKenzie and scored in the right corner – to much delight, as he was returning from a long injury forced on him by a broken leg – his second leg injury – against the Blues at the end of February 2016. 18-3 after 45 minutes.
The Highlanders were attacking again but a knock-on by Ben Smith gave the Chiefs a scrum inside their 22. From the scrum Ngatai broke. He raced down the field and gave to James Lowe who forged ahead moving slightly infield where an inside pass seemed interesting to him but instead he passed outside to Ngatai who gave inside to Cruden who scored a wonderful try. 18-8 after 51 minutes.
The Highlanders attacked going left and Sopoaga threaded a grubber through towards the Chiefs line where Toni Pulu, falling back, carried over to concede a five-metre scrum on the left. Osborne came in to set up the bashing with Matt Faddes and Ben smith prominent and then went wide right where Naholo went past Lowe to score in the Referees' Corner. 23-8 after 61 minutes.
The Highlanders' attacked and Maama Vaipulu was yellowcarded after a succession of tackle infringement. (The penalty count at that stage was 8-4 to the Highlanders'.) Sopoaga goaled the easy penalty. 26-8 after 68 minutes.
Penalties got the Chiefs attacking, first from a five-metre line-out and then along the five-metre line till eventually Vaka caught the ball where there were no defenders and scored. 23-16 after 79 minutes.
Man of the Match: Much as one would like to give the award to the speedy prop, Dan Lienert-Brown we really should give it to Waisake Naholo who scored those tries and worked at every phase of play, even winning turnovers at tackles. We do that with lots of admiration for Damian McKenzie.
The scorers:
For the Chiefs:
Tries: Cruden, Vaka
Pen: Cruden
For the Highlanders:
Tries: Lienert-Brown, Naholo 2
Con: Banks
Pens: Sopoaga 3
Yellow cards: Charlie Ngatai (Chiefs, 40 – foul play, dangerous tackle), Maama Vaipulu (Chiefs, 68 – cynical play, slapping the ball away)
Teams:
Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Toni Pulu, 13 Seta Tamanivalu, 12 Charlie Ngatai, 11 James Lowe, 10 Aaron Cruden (co-captain), 9 Brad Weber, 8 Michael Leitch, 7 Sam Cane (co-captain), 6 Taleni Seu, 5 Brodie Retallick, 4 Dominic Bird, 3 Hiroshi Yamashita, 2 Hika Elliot, 1 Mitchell Graham.
Replacements: 16 Nathan Harris, 17 Siate Tokolahi, 18 Kane Hames, 19 Michael Allardice, 20 Maama Vaipulu, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Sam Vaka.
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith (captain), 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Matt Faddes, 12 Malakai Fekitoa, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Dan Pryor, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Tom Franklin, 4 Alex Ainley, 3 Josh Hohneck, 2 Ash Dixon, 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown.
Replacements: 16 Greg Pleasants-Tate, 17 Aki Seiuli, 18 Siosiua Halanukonuka, 19 James Lentjes, 20 Gareth Evans, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Marty Banks, 23 Teihorangi Walden.
Referee: Angus Garner
Assistant referees: Chris Pollock, Angus Mabey
TMO: Shane McDermott
