Rugby: Southern supremacy continues

The Highlanders' Phil Burleigh attempts to fend off the defence. Photo / Getty Images

Highlanders 18
Waratahs 17

Exhaustion eventually frayed the edges of an intense contest which resulted in the unbeaten Highlanders gaining further traction in the New Zealand conference with their third win. Old-fashioned grit won the day despite patches of indiscipline and a swag of errors.

The first 20 minutes were frenetic as the Highlanders pursued their game plan of playing at pace.

They were book-ended by a final 20 minutes where some players were barely able to run as the quest for match fitness continues three rounds in.

A hangover from last week's win over the Crusaders was evident in the Highlanders. They were still directed impressively by halfback Aaron Smith but too often had difficulty linking out wide or unnecessarily hacking the ball when maintaining possession might have been more prudent. The home side also gave away too many penalties at the breakdown which was policed ruthlessly by referee Bryce Lawrence.

Waratahs captain Daniel Halangahu's accuracy with the boot made them pay in threes but a 45m effort on the angle proved just outside his range in the 72nd minute which would have tipped the lead back in the Waratahs' favour.

The Waratahs played the early percentages better. It was great to see the Highlanders' extensive flair but it was generally no substitute for regular penalties. The exception was Smith's try where the Highlanders elected not to take a penalty in front of the posts. Smith tapped, fed a surging Lima Sopoaga and received the return pop-up pass which caught the Waratahs unprepared.

The channel next to breakdown and set piece was well policed by both teams and defence out wide was equally tight at times with few opportunities for the three-quarters to break free.

Colin Slade - who had a half in the fullback jersey last week - was named there this week but was forced into first-five with Sopoaga's exit. He looked out of sorts at times. His kicking and option-taking had some hesitancy (a chargedown led to the Australians' only try) and the Waratahs' loose forwards pounced. However, Slade kept his composure with his place-kicking boot to put the Highlanders ahead 18-17 with 15 minutes to play.

Waratahs opensider Pat McCutcheon produced a martyr-like display, including that chargedown of a Slade clearing kick for an early second half try. His tireless work helped the Waratahs get the better of the first half breakdown - although they leaked too many penalties there as well - and his try took the visitors to a 14-8 lead five minutes into the second half. He twisted his ankle in the process and the stretcher was called for.

McCutcheon's effort was matched by his opposite number John Hardie two minutes later right in front of 'The Zoo' stand at the northern end - which is proving a hit for the local Scarfies. They gave him a raucous welcome as he crossed in the left-hand corner.

The match provided further evidence that if there was an All Blacks side named tomorrow it would be hard to scratch Smith from the No 9 jersey.

His distribution, speed and composure were the hub which the Highlanders built their performance around until Jimmy Cowan replaced him midway through the second half. Smith's skills have edged him ahead of Cowan and, gauging from the first three rounds of Super Rugby, he would be ahead of Piri Weepu and would give Andrew Ellis a stern contest for the starting spot.

Last night he fed both his first-fives admirably; first Sopoaga (before departing midway through the first half with a shoulder injury) and then Slade. Smith kept the ball flowing into the channels for his forwards to use brute force before spinning it at pace into a backline where the likes of Phil Burleigh and Tamati Ellison are benefitting from the extra time available.

Highlanders 18 (A. Smith, J. Hardie tries; C. Slade con, 2 pens), Waratahs 17 (P. McCutcheon try; D. Halangahu 4 pens). Halftime: Waratahs 9-8.