Southern strain as pressure takes toll

Waratahs 41 Highlanders 20


As far as speed wobbles go, the Highlanders' first loss in eight outings could lead to something even more dangerous.

Just as Southerners started to believe they were on the verge of something special, they now face the prospect of having to go to Hamilton to lay their claim to a semi-final spot.

With a visit from the rampant Crusaders next weekend, life with the big boys suddenly looks more difficult.

As far as the Waratahs are concerned, a side also written off at the start of the season, Carisbrook hasn't exactly been the House of Pain for them having now won four of their five games at the ground.

It was an important result for coach Ewen McKenzie, who wanted to break the pattern of his franchise's history in the Super 12 when they have traditionally folded at the crunch time of the season.

"It was important for us tonight," McKenzie said.

"We had our best game of the season and did every part of our game well."

Perhaps indicating the magnitude of the match, it was a game punctuated by mistakes. In this era of high-tech analysis, Cooper and Co would not have been impressed with the accuracy of their side. The groans from the best crowd at Carisbrook this season were audible and it was little surprise when Cooper rung the changes within the hour.

It was also a match that tested the Highlanders' much-vaunted defence - previously the best in the Super 12 - as the Waratahs had the lion's share of possession and territory and five tries to two. They used the ball intelligently, only kicking when it was the last option, and invariably attacked out wide against arguably the Highlanders' weak point.

In contrast, the Highlanders couldn't get their big guns into the game, largely because they couldn't get their hands on the ball. Flanker Josh Blackie, who took a heavy knock in the first term, was largely anonymous, No 8 Paul Miller had few opportunities with the ball in hand, the front row had little chance to shine and exciting first five-eighth Nick Evans did more backtracking than he did thrusting forward.

Cooper conceded that it was the worst his side had played this season. "Sometimes players can be flat, sometimes they can be over the top, I had a concern before the match that some of the players were a little bit edgy," he said. "I wonder if it was because of the occasion."

It had all looked so promising when Evans scampered 80 metres to dot down with 68 seconds on the clock.

But the Waratahs machine started to rumble and by halftime they had accounted for about 70 per cent of possession and territory. Wings Lote Tuqiri and Peter Hewat and fullback Mat Rogers sliced through their opposites too easily and powerful blindside Rocky Elsom was dangerous around the fringes. Phil Waugh, too, was irrepressible.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY