Highlanders

2023 - 3 - 19

Post cover — Image courtesy of "New Zealand Herald"

Highlanders v Force: Super Rugby Pacific live updates (New Zealand Herald)

Gilbert drives it over from the left touchline to push the lead out to four. 22-18 S. Gilbert. Conversion.

Groans when the Highlanders turned down a kickable penalty in the last minute of the half turned to whoops when Hunt, just back on the field, slithered his way over for a try that meant a halftime lead for the home team which eventually turned into a first victory. They succeeded brilliantly and boringly in that plan — and the Force took a 6-0 lead with a pair of penalties — until the Highlanders cracked the game open, and to the surprise of few, it was through attacking weapon Thomas Umaga-Jensen. An eighth lead change of the game followed when Force reserve George Poolman was shown yellow for dumping Gilbert on his head, and with the man advantage, Highlanders flanker Sean Withy - a late replacement for the scratched Shannon Frizell - hit the line at pace to score and make it 29-25.

Highlanders overcome late withdrawal of Shannon Frizell to beat ... (Stuff.co.nz)

At Invercargill Rugby Park: Highlanders 43 (Jonah Lowe 2 tries 14min and 70min, Mitch Hunt 40min, Sam Gilbert try 47min, Sean Withy try 60min, ...

The Fijians will be more dangerous with ball in hand than the Force. He smashed hos way through the Force midfield defence to give the Highlanders the front-foot ball they wanted. Wing Martin Bogado was another positive, and No 8 Hugh Renton picked up a deserved try with a late try. Jonah Lowe try after 70 minutes gave the Highlanders some breathing space at 36-25, but the try had its origin in a clever 50-22 from an unlikely source: replacement hooker Rhys Marshall. With all four first-choice locks injured, the 36-year-old injury replacement Josh Bekhuis was forced to go the full 80 minutes. *

Live updates: Super Rugby Pacific - Highlanders v Western Force at ... (Newshub)

App users click here for latest updates. Highlanders 15 Force 13. Highlanders - Lowe & Hunt tries; Gilbert conversion & penalty. Force - Kibirige try ...

Force concreter Warren-Vosayaco to be unleashed against ... (Rugby.com.au)

The Western Force will be aiming to notch their third win of the season when they take on the Highlanders in NZ.

It was our rugby brain decision (that let us down)," Cron said. "It's a big focus on making the most of these opportunities." "I'm here in NZ for the next three weeks and I've got to make the most of these opportunities.

Recap: Highlanders vs Western Force - Super Rugby Pacific (Stuff.co.nz)

Highlanders hit back with impressive tries to beat Force 43-35 for first win of Super Rugby Pacific season.

Highlanders player ratings vs Force | Super Rugby Pacific (RugbyPass)

After seven lead changes the Highlanders pulled away to secure a 43-35 victory and their first win of the season. Here's how they rated.

[James Lentjes](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/james-lentjes/)– N/A – on at 80 [Folau Fakatava](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/folau-fakatava/)– 5 – on in 62nd. [Connor Garden-Bachop](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/connor-garden-bachop/)– didn’t get on [Ayden Johnstone](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/ayden-johnstone/)– 5 – on in 45th. [Rhys Marshall](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/rhys-marshall/)– 6 – on in 17th. [Andrew Makalio](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/andrew-makalio/)– N/A [Chase Tiatia](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/chase-tiatia/)on a kick return. [Jermaine Ainsley](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/jermaine-ainsley/)– 7 [Cameron Millar](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/cameron-millar/)– N/A – on at 80 for his sixty second debut. Went for a bold intercept attempt with a try on offer for the Force and only got one hand to it, leading to a yellow card. Had a grubber charged on first phase from a lineout launch. Pushed the pass searching for an opportunity early as the Highlanders lacked a bit patience in the first half. Produced a beautiful offload on an early Highlanders’ attack. A second strike right on half-time gave them a 15-13 lead.

A win at last for Highlanders as Force are made to pay for ill discipline (1 News)

The Force, from Perth, led 25-22 with 22 minutes to play when George Poolman was sin-binned for a lifting tackle on Highlanders fullback Sam Gilbert. That was ...

That effort was called back, but Tom Horton crossed soon after on the back of a Force driving maul to give the visitors a lead. Force halfback Gareth Simpson was impressive on club debut after the Saracens-bound Englishman was drafted into the squad as injury cover. Highlanders No.10 Mitch Hunt scuppered a Force try with a deliberate knock-down and was sin-binned, but no penalty try was awarded.

Highlanders hope key locks can ease injury crisis that has claimed ... (Stuff.co.nz)

Coach Clarke Dermody was pulling players out of the Highlanders under-20s squad at the weekend just to field a team against the Force.

[But] there's still some loose stuff that we're going to work on looking forward to the Drua. Frizell’s absence makes the potential returns of Dickson and Parkinson even more important. The early prognosis on Frizell was unclear, although the nature of the injury puts him under a cloud for the Drua game. So, there's a bit of energy coming in from those two. * “But I’m not 100% as there was a fair bit going on [in the warmup].

Five things we learnt from Force-Highlanders (Rugby.com.au)

Simon Cron's black book continues to deliver stars to the Force. Scrumhalf Gareth Simpson was an unknown prospect heading into the match but showed his class as ...

He then hit Bryce Hegarty with a bullet pass to keep them in the contest. To rub salt into the wounds, Hunt returned and made up for his mistake with a try after the siren to give the hosts a first-half lead. The Force understands better than most the value of these points, missing the finals last year to the Highlanders on for and against. The centre finished with four offloads, four tackle busts to go with a game-high 15 carries. Kuenzle's break down the short side set up a three-on-one overlap, with the presence of fullback Sam Gilbert convincing Angus Mabey to leave it at just a penalty. They found themselves in the lead with 30 minutes to go, only for a lack of discipline and execution to let them down.

'The boys are ready': Highlanders escape with comeback win over ... (RugbyPass)

The Western Force have missed a chance in New Zealand after the Highlanders escaped with a comeback Super Rugby Pacific win in Invercargill.

[Michael Wells](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/michael-wells/) said. [Billy Harmon](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/billy-harmon/) said. [Tom Horton](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/tom-horton/) crossed soon after on the back of a Force driving maul to give the visitors a lead. [Mitch Hunt](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/mitch-hunt/) scuppered a Force try with a deliberate knock-down and was sin-binned, but no penalty try was awarded. [Thomas Umaga-Jensen](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/thomas-umaga-jensen/) stepped up, a strong run setting up [Jonah Lowe](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/jonah-lowe/) for the game’s first try before a clean tackle and pilfer on [Hamish Stewart](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/hamish-stewart/) spoiled a Force raid. [All Blacks](https://www.rugbypass.com/teams/new-zealand/) flanker Shannon Frizzell (groin) in the warm-up and then hooker [Andrew Makalio](https://www.rugbypass.com/players/andrew-makalio/) (HIA) early in the game.

Highlanders

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