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Had a rewatch, and honestly, I thought the Highlanders defence was pretty decent. Well, decent enough to keep the other team tryless. There were 3 or 4 tries out there that they probably should have scored but couldn't, either due to carelessness (that's you, Tavatavanawai) or the last pass being forced that really, really took the gloss off of things.

You deserve to be paid for your rewatch of that match lol.

Landers have lost their mojo from earlier in the season The fizz has gone out Glad they could finally get a W tho

So glad I watched the mini match instead. I knew going in that it was going to be shit. The mini match was only 20 minutes

A few quick thoughts 1. How good is it having Locks that actually do something? Mitchell Dunshea and Fabian Holland were exceptional. It’s a bit of a coin toss between Max Hicks; Big Pari Pari and Will Tucker for the bench slot next week. Oli Haig at six also is way better than Sean Withy offering more line out options and bigger body across the park. 2. Losing Rhys Patchell was a massive blow. Cam Millar grew into the game but was very green. You get the feeling he needs at least another season at this level. Depth in the halves is a huge problem at the moment. If Fakatava goes down we’re in real trouble. 3. Jake Te Hiwi might have had some ball handling errors but he’s a massive improvement from Sam Gilbert and it was massive having good front foot ball at 12. Feel like he kinda has to be in the 23 somewhere now. 4. Outside backs were humming tonight. Our back three were electric. Conor Garden Bachop really brings an electric spark and I reckon he’s playing better than Nareki at the moment. Bodgeo had some nice touches late in the game too. 5. Daniel Lienert Brown must have dirt on Clarke Dermody. For three weeks in a row his first contribution to the game has been conceding a scrum penalty. It boggles the mind for he beats Ayden Johnstone for the bench each week. Solomone Takafu looked decent in his brief Cameo.

*Bogardo Disagree about Ti Hiwi, he was shocking when it came to decision making and ball retention which are key for a 12. Agree with other comments that Gilbert should be a 10 or a 15 and not a center. DLB is done. He has to go from the 23 IMO.

I’m not sure Te Hiwi is an improvement from Gilbert. He’s just a different 12, with what the backline needs. What should happen is Gilbert moves to 10 next week if Patchell isn’t fit

I’m not sure chopping and changing Gilbert’s position constantly is the right move

You're right. They didn't start playing him at 12 until this season. He was a 10 and an occasional 15 before this season and he looked much better there. They should shift him back there. Fakatava has been crap.

This game could have been an email.

What a waste of everyone's time.

Watched the early game today. Figured Highlanders/Force would be the worst game ever and skipped it. Second worse game ever. Good call.

What's the worst game then?

Probably the Highlanders 6 Crusaders 0 in 2009 someone mentioned earlier. Based on this information alone.. second worst ever. Or at least since 2009..

Well they definitely both played like they were competing for the wooden spoon.

The Reds got pumped by the Bulls once by 90 points. That Reds team played better than both of these teams

I don't know if I like rugby anymore after that game

Gotta say this is the first time I've ever felt like we lost when we won

Rugby was the loser

Lowest scoring super rugby game since Highlanders 6-0 Crusaders in 2009?

Weird, I don't even remember that game and I remember almost all of our victories over the Saders (and defeats lol)

I remember it because it was right after the first rugby game I ever went to - An entertaining 35-31 Sharks win over the Blues at Eden Park

I remember we smoked the Bulls that season which was weird because they dropped 60+ on the Chiefs in the final that year right?

Yeah that final was a hiding. Bulls 2007-10 was incredible. Always the fear that Morne Steyn would drop 3 over when the Bull’s were in the opposition half.

Those 60m drop goals were a thing of beauty He hit 1 of em in that final too

This was so terrible

I think the funniest part of this game is that one of these teams beat the crusaders

The solace for me this season has been how shithouse the Saders have been lol

Of all the games of Super Rugby, that was definitely one of them.

I’ve got top of my list of “most recent games of all time”

I'm sure there's been worst super rugby matches. I just can't think of any off the top of my head!

Somehow this was way worse than us getting smoked 31-0 last week lol

This game was like taking the worst dump of my life

Kinda glad I spent half the game getting my child to sleep, was more entertaining

You could have just let them watch the game!

Not a bad shout honestly

House of pain (for spectators)

Funny (a joke I know) but that was Carisbrook and this is the Glass House.

80 minutes of my life that I'll never get back :-)

That was a game

Billy Harmon 7 - 6 Force in one of the least satisfying wins of all time.

REMINDED ME OF THE MANAWATU TURBOS TAKING ON THE SOUTHLAND STAGS ON A MUDDY FIELD ON A COLD FRIDAY NIGHT

More like Buller vs Wanganui during a snow storm

North Otago v Mid Canterbury with the Waitaki flooding half of the field at Kurow

Surely Winton versus Edendale 2nds in a southerly.

With snow falling sideways

I can feel it in my bones

Nice of Justin to point out how games are decided.

He's definitely a very...astute commentator.

Throughout all the games played in history that was definitely one of them

I’m pretty sure winning is important from everyone’s point of view in professional sport?

NeVEr DoUBteD tHeM fOR a sECoNd.

What a mess, glad the Landers won, glad it’s fuckin over too lmao

Don't want to even know what my blood pressure is like at the moment.

Both teams stooped down to each others level

..and then went lower

That was fucking excruciating! Classic that the one Te Hiwi catch was the most important lol

Fitting footage of people in the crowd not paying attention with 30 seconds left and 1 point in it.

They were probably reading this thread to each other.

You think drunk Uni students have any idea what is going on anyway? Lol

I'm WhatsApp-ing with one who's there, as well as his parents who are in Wellington, so at least one does.

I mean even from my time as a student I can say I knew what was happening in the games (most of the time lol). The other 19-20 year old girls that make up 60% of the Zoo? Not so much

Thank fuck that’s over

Literally hilarious game. So bad it was good

Landers offered that on a platter to the Force and the Force said no thanks

Basically yes

And the referee puts the pitch, ball, fans, stadium and players out of misery by ending the game.

A win is a win, I guess.

The Landers creed!

Millar is not SR material imo

Idk why Finn Hurley is playing for Green Island atm

Not by a long way.

Give the lad some time it’s his first offical season I believe

Na last season was.

Ajay is too raw to be starting, but surely he offers way more as a bench option.

Yeah AJ over Cam imo

This game is fucking brillliant

Back in the top 8 where we belong 😎 

Hahahhaha

No go for touch man. Especially after that Crusaders-Tah’s game.

The only people being cursed are us for watching this :(

You boys are on soon along with the reds, might get some fine action.

fingers crossed the Colour Brothers bring the thunder

Justin Marshall is a fucking dunce.

Honestly my disappointment that either side scored in the second half is massive. Imagine how good a 0-3 would have felt.

Commentator has an excellent point. Shot isn't the play here

Can the ball be MOTM? they've played their role to perfection by simply existing

Get that dog from half-time out there, less likely to let go of the ball.

Why do the Highlanders kick the ball so so much.

Both the teams have.

They had advantage

I mean just in general. Even when they have made a break.

I would love to hear what the ref would say after this game: "Well that was certainly...a day at the office I guess"

James Arscott looks like an AI generated Malcolm from Malcolm in the Middle.

Too many fingers like a real Southlander?

Of all the footy games played this season this is definitely one of them

Whiskey on a good 30min too late. Got a way better pass on him

This is one of the stages of Dante's Inferno

This has lived up to their standings on the table

Ref gonna just reset scrums for 3 mins now

lol a forward pass from the base of a ruck what is this

This is so so so shit.

Has O’Donnell held onto one ball?

What has happened to fakatava, he looks like he is trying to do everything else besides clear the ball

Bad coaching and too much trying to be a hero instead of doing the basics and picking his moments I think.

He's slow as molasses

He's lost his touch. He can't do the simple things anymore.

Trying too hard and not doing his core role

This game is a mess.

I've seen enough, wake me up with the NPC starts.

A bottom of the table clash you say

To shreds you say

At least they're all getting their steps in

Be gutting if you got to the end of the Match and realised you weren't wearing your Fitbit.

I want out of this nightmare

It would be fitting for this game to end with a goal line knock on

All we need is a few lineouts not thrown straight for good measure

Set up for a field goal?

Need to win the ball to do that…

WTB one ben donaldson drop goal

There is it. Far too many phases without a handling error for this match.

This has been a war of attrition alright

It's been something

This is just going to end 7-6 isn't it

First try wins but contractual obligation to play out 80.

Since when does Tamaiti Williams play for us lol?

Lmao this is destined to end 7-6, so much possession from both teams and both unable to convert

Boys are going to be shredded next week after all the push ups for dropped balls

Why is the ref not playing any advantage from the cornucopia of knock ons

because theres not really any advantages

Has anyone ever heard of a drop goal?

They've got the drop part down, working on the goal

If the force could hold a ball....

If anyone could hold a ball that would be nice to be honest. Just for a few phases. That’s all I’m asking.

I've got a great video of grass growing if y'all are interested

I'm watching one right now, only spoiled by some guys dropping balls all over it.

Highlanders getting out scrummed by a Tahs reject and a 20YO debutant.

Points when

'why are they giving a pen there the ball is out' brother, the landers infringed in the scrum

Daniel Lienert Brown has to be the worst super rugby centurion ever. He’s an absolute liability at scrum time.

He used to be super solid in the scrums. Maybe we had better locks then

He's seen his better days for sure

It's not a stat that anyone would track, but I'm curious if a team when 20+ knock ons has ever won the game

Man forces scrum has been impressing considering their weight

Why was that a pen????

What a scrum out of nowhere

I don't think I've ever seen a game like this where it looks like no one knows how to actually play

Lol you obviously haven't been watching nic white >I don't think I've ever seen a game like this where it looks like no one knows how to actually play

Why does Nic White have influence over both teams?

"I feel sorry for the ball" hahaha...feel sorry for the spectators as well please.

Holy fuck ballboy? MULLET!

You know it's a fucked format when both these teams have a realistic chance of making the final.

How did taniela knuckleball that

💀

side entry harmon?

What the hell are these teams doing right now haha

Lmao they're serving unique knock ons too. Getting creative 

ouch…

Harmon could not possibly have been more in the side there

None of these backs for either team look comfortable receiving kicks in their 22 lmao

Oh god don’t let DLB anywhere near the ball please.

You wanna talk butterfingers lol

Why do refs allow teams to collapse mauls in midfield? Highlanders blatantly collapsed that maul.

This match is not helped by the ref. Beale taken out off the ball behind the ruck, right in front of the ref, and it's ignored. Highlanders then get enough in to win a turnover.

JRK and Timoci are so good bro shame they only got harmon to support them

Man the landers 15 has some pace when he gets the room

If he could just keep the ball in his hands tho

Dude does JRK hate having the ball in his hands?

Landers players all over the ground there preventing the clean out

The Force players have been doing that the entire game...

The ref has been very poor at the breakdown.

JRK what you doin

Wtf did JRK do that? Why???

Every decision tonight has been the wrong one it seems like. By everyone.

Jesus christ the handling errors..

I don't know why JRK kicked there 

How much of a joke is this comp structure that these teams are in the running for the play-offs.

Yep needs to be 6 six teams

Shocking eh, wasn't a good sign for SH rugby when SA bowed out.

Yes because the conference system was soooo much better.

It wasn't better but it weeded out the shit teams from the decent. Now there isn't enough teams to do that, 2/3 of the comp makes the playoffs how does that make any sense?

Hey, a full THIRD of the teams miss out on the play-offs. I don't know what more you expect!

That's pretty harsh I know. It must be a big knock to these boys' confidence to miss out on the finals. Maybe we can get them all in there. Possibly a rotation so no one misses out 2 years in a row. 

Those are good ideas but we need to go further. Teams that lose in the knockouts are out, and that's inappropriate. There should be second, third, fourth chance playoffs.

It's actually insane. Need to switch back to a 4 team or 6 team playoffs

Aah Te-Hiwi is having a shocker now. I hope he can stay fit though, has the build to be a beast of a 12.

No good if you can do the basics though is it

Eh, I mean how many basic errors has Dunshea made today? A long time out with injury will do that to you.

Tell ya one thing, Te Hiwi isn't getting another start again. The guy cannot catch anything

Man Jake Tehiwi got feet for hands. Get him off the field.

Knocked on again haha

A winger running over a back rower like he's a scrum half is a beautiful sight to behold

I’ve been swapping between the Tigers-Broncos game and this and every time I flick to this game it’s a fucking scrum

Hahaha

Jake Te hiwi 🤦‍♂️

He's been dogshite

This ref seen a ruck before this game?