'Real test' Stormers awaits after 'speed bump'
SUPER RUGBY REACTION: The Lions may have dominated the South African landscape for the last three years, but they are now seen as little more than a speed bump.
At least this is the suggestion Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger, after his team’s four-match unbeaten run came to an abrupt end at Ellis Park at the weekend.
The Highlanders mentor, Mauger, believes his team will return to their true form when they travel to Cape Town for the second match of their South African tour.
The Highlanders face the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday, after losing 29-38 to the Lions in Johannesburg.
The Stormers came from behind (10-19) in a thrilling final quarter at Newlands to play to a 19-all draw with the defending champion Crusaders.
“Over the last four weeks we’ve been collecting a lot of points,” he said of wins over the Blues (24-12), Sunwolves (52-0) and Jaguares (32-27), to go with a (31-all) draw with the Chiefs.
It saw the Highlanders collect 15 points and move from 14th to eighth on the standings.
“It is disappointing to have a bit of a speed bump,” Mauger said, adding: “We will get back on the horse and have a good week down in Cape Town.
“We look forward to that [Stormers] challenge.”
The Highlanders know they can’t afford to waste the opportunities as they did at Ellis Park.
The teams scored five tries apiece.
Lions flyhalf Elton Jantjies made the difference, with 13-point tally – which included five conversions and a penalty.
In stark contrast, the Highlanders managed to convert only two of their five kicks at goal.
The Highlanders did have opportunities to win the game with the ball in hand, but a combination of scrambling defence from the Lions and handling errors at critical periods of the game cost the Dunedin-based team.
“Our goal-kicking has been pretty good this year,” the Highlanders coach said.
“I thought we could have taken more opportunities with ball in hand and we let in a couple of soft tries. That was the difference.
“In the end, I think they deserved their win,” Mauger added.
By Josh Isaacson
@isaacson_j
@rugby365com
