Rugby: Highlanders need to adapt, says Brown

Highlanders five-eighth Tony Brown. Photo / Getty Images

Evergreen five-eighth Tony Brown believes the Highlanders need to take a hard look at themselves before meeting Super 15 rugby rivals the Chiefs in Hamilton tomorrow night.

The Highlanders went down 15-10 to the Blues in Dunedin last week in a match remembered for the controversial refereeing of Chris Pollock.

Brown, who will miss the match against the Chiefs with a hamstring strain, said that while some of Pollock's decisions unsettled the Highlanders they had to look at themselves if they were to regain their winning habit.

"We gave away a lot of penalties against the Blues which made it very difficult to create pressure," the former All Black said.

"We also dropped a lot of ball when we had the opportunity to attack and to score points. If you do that against a quality team, you're never going to win.

"We didn't adapt to the referee, obviously, because we kept getting pinged right to the end of the game. I guess smart sides might get penalised early but end up adapting to the referee."

Brown, 36, knows only too well that victory in Hamilton will not be easy. The Highlanders have not won there since 2003 and wins for Otago at domestic level have been equally elusive.

The Chiefs returned home early this week after beating the Lions in Johannesburg and losing 27-43 to the Bulls in Pretoria.

"They'll be hurting and they have a lot to prove to themselves and their public," Brown said of the fifth and last-placed New Zealand franchise.

"The only way to do that is to go out and beat sides. It will be a very tough game. Even though they've just got back from South Africa, they've got nothing to lose. I guess they'll look to throw the ball around and play the rugby they believe they can play."

Brown said it was difficult to pinpoint why Otago and the Highlanders had found winning so difficult in Hamilton.

"They've got a very proud history up there with Waikato and the Chiefs and they've always been very tough to beat at home.

"It will be a big ask for us to go up there and knock them over but we'll be giving it our best shot."

The Highlanders beat the Chiefs 23-13 in Dunedin in the second round but injuries are making it a war of attrition as the Super 15 enters the 12th round.

Highlanders midfield find Shaun Treeby continues to be sidelined by damaged medial knee ligaments and in-form fullback Ben Smith will continue to deputise in his absence.

Brown, who is replaced in the No.10 jersey by Lima Sopoaga, is confident he will be available again in a couple of weeks.

There is no question the Highlanders will miss Brown's defence around the fringes and his around-the-field direction while goalkicking continues to be a weakness. The Highlanders have kicked 37 goals from 67 attempts, the poorest ratio of the New Zealand teams.

Apart from Sopoaga taking over at first five-eighth, Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph has made two changes to his bench with Brayden Mitchell taking over from Mo Schwalger as reserve hooker and prop Bronson Murray coming in for David Te Moana who has a calf injury.

Team: Robbie Robinson, Kade Poki, Kendrick Lynn, Ben Smith, Siale Piutau, Lima Sopoaga, Jimmy Cowan, Nasi Manu, Alando Soakai, Adam Thomson, Josh Bekhuis, Jarrad Hoeata, Chris King, Jason Rutledge, Jamie Mackintosh (captain). Reserves: Brayden Mitchell, Bronson Murray, Tom Donnelly, Nick Crosswell, Aaron Smith, Matt Saunders, James Paterson.

- NZPA