Caleb Tangitau scored twice in a thrilling second-half fightback as the Highlanders denied the Western Force a milestone victory, holding on for a frenetic 39–31 Super Rugby Pacific win at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
In a rollercoaster encounter in which the lead changed hands six times, the Force looked on the cusp of notching back-to-back wins in New Zealand for the first time since 2008. But Tangitau broke Force fans’ hearts with his second try, a stunning team effort involving chips from Jona Nareki and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, before Reesjan Pasitoa’s late penalty sealed the deal.
The great escape will be a welcome relief for coach Jamie Joseph, who missed out on the All Blacks coaching job to former Wallabies boss Dave Rennie earlier this week. Wooden spooners last year, Joseph’s Highlanders had won only one of their past nine matches and, midway through the second half, were staring down the barrel of suffering seven consecutive defeats to Australian opposition for the first time.
Joseph largely had inspirational co-captain Timoci Tavatavanawai to thank after the powerhouse centre single-handedly shifted momentum back his side’s way after the Force had grabbed a 21–17 half-time lead.
The hosts started brightly, striking first through Veveni Lasaqa after sharp work from the backs. Cameron Millar’s high kick caused problems when Nathan Hastie’s box kick bounced backwards into his hands, and Oliver Haig charged through before finding Folau Fakatava, who fired it to Lasaqa on his inside to score. Millar converted and added a penalty soon after for a 10–0 lead.
The Force had arrived with a clear plan to test the Highlanders under the high ball, with former Highlanders halfback Hastie putting up huge bombs throughout. But as the visitors would learn, if you live by that sword you can die by it too.
Vaiolini Ekuasi crashed over from close range in the 22nd minute to spark a Force response. When Jonah Lowe skirted down the right wing and brushed off two Force defenders to score the Highlanders’ second try, the home side looked in control at 17–7.
But a 50-22 off the boot of Hamish Stewart turned momentum the Force’s way. Even captain Jeremy Williams looked half-surprised when referee Ben O’Keeffe awarded him a pick-and-drive try after he initially appeared short before planting the ball forward over the line.
Then fleet-footed flyhalf Ben Donaldson — who enhanced his Wallabies claims with another eye-catching display with boot and ball in hand — sliced through the Highlanders’ defence and put Stewart over to give the Force a four-point half-time advantage.
Tavatavanawai turned one-man wrecking ball in the second half, beating and bumping off half a dozen Force defenders in two huge midfield surges. With the Force suddenly on the back foot, Lowe swooped on a probing grubber kick from Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens to snare his second try and restore the Highlanders’ lead at 24–21.
The quickfire blitz continued when Tangitau crossed minutes later to push the Highlanders out to an eight-point lead on the hour mark. Great work from Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens forced possession deep in the Force 22, and Nareki’s long ball bounced up perfectly for Tangitau to step inside and score untouched.
The Force wrestled back when prolific flanker Carlo Tizzano and former All Blacks winger George Bridge crossed in the space of two minutes. Tizzano powered over from an attacking maul before Darby Lancaster burst through midfield and Kurtley Beale linked with Bridge, who barged through three defenders to score. The Force led 31–29 with 10 minutes to play.
But the Highlanders’ response was special. Nareki chipped a cheeky kick over the top for himself to chase, regathering and bursting into the 22. He found Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, who was stopped just short. The Highlanders saw space and shifted right, with Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens chipping over the top for Tangitau to collect and score. It was pure Globetrotter stuff from the hosts’ back three, and Pasitoa — on for Millar — converted for 36–31.
The Force pushed hard for a response, but Soane Vikena won a crucial turnover at the breakdown to snuff out their hopes. Pasitoa, the former Force flyhalf, made no mistake from 35 metres to seal a hard-fought victory.
The result was soured slightly when Lowe was forced from the field with a shoulder injury with seven minutes remaining. Having used all their substitutes, the Highlanders were forced to finish with 14 men — but they managed the closing stages well.
“Really proud of the effort,” Tavatavanawai told Sky Sport afterwards. “It’s a chaos week for us, but feel for our coach and we’re grateful that we have him for the next few years. We have Gus [Ta’avao] back in the team to bring a lot of excitement and energy to the team. We owe it to him and to get the win today is special.”
The match also marked an emotional return for All Black prop Angus Ta’avao, back in the side following the death of his son.
The Highlanders dominated the key stats with ball in hand, gaining 536 metres compared to the Force’s 300, along with 33–16 defenders beaten and 9–2 clean breaks. The visitors weren’t helped by 37 missed tackles, while the Force’s aerial dominance was underlined by the home side losing seven lineouts.
The result ends the Highlanders’ forgettable run of six straight losses to Australian opponents and snaps a two-game losing streak for their second win of the season. The Force will rue missed conversions from Max Burey — had he landed either of his attempts, the result might have been different.
The Highlanders now travel to face the Crusaders in a huge South Island derby, while the Force head to Napier to face the Hurricanes in the final match of their three-game New Zealand swing.
Key moments
10 mins – TRY HIGHLANDERS: The hosts struck first after sharp work from the backs. Cameron Millar’s high kick caused problems and Oliver Haig charged through before finding Folau Fakatava, who fired it to Veveni Lasaqa on his inside to score. Millar converted. (Highlanders 7–0)
15 mins – PENALTY HIGHLANDERS: Cameron Millar slotted a penalty from 35 metres after the Force were pinged at the breakdown. (Highlanders 10–0)
22 mins – TRY FORCE: The visitors got on the board through Vaiolini Ekuasi. Brandon Paenga-Amosa’s throw was messy but the Force gathered, and after Paenga-Amosa carried close, Ekuasi picked from the back and bundled over. Ben Donaldson converted. (Highlanders 10–7)
28 mins – TRY HIGHLANDERS: Jonah Lowe produced a moment of magic. Caleb Tangitau popped a ball to Lowe with half a blade of grass to spare down the right edge, and somehow he shook off two defenders before sprinting away to score in the corner. Millar converted from the sideline. (Highlanders 17–7)
33 mins – 50-22 FORCE: Hamish Stewart produced a magnificent 50-22 kick from a sharp set-piece scrum, gaining 60 metres and putting the Force deep in Highlanders territory.
36 mins – TRY FORCE: Jeremy Williams stunned the hosts with the sneakiest of tries. Caught half a metre short from a pick-and-drive, Williams went to ground and placed the ball forward over the try line. Referee Ben O’Keeffe awarded the try after checking the laws. Donaldson converted. (Highlanders 17–14)
40 mins – TRY FORCE: Brilliant from the Force on the stroke of half-time. Jona Nareki’s chip was read by the visitors, and the Force shifted it right. Donaldson found a mismatch and broke through the line, taking it into the 22 before finding Stewart on his left. The Wallaby centre went over under the posts. Donaldson converted. (Force 21–17)
Half-time: Force 21–17. A lively opening 40 minutes with both sides trading momentum. The Highlanders struck first through Lasaqa and looked dangerous through Lowe’s powerful corner finish. But the Force refused to fade, with Ekuasi and Williams crossing before Donaldson’s break set up Stewart’s try on the stroke of half-time to give the visitors a four-point lead.
54 mins – TRY HIGHLANDERS: Lowe bagged his double after brilliant work from Timoci Tavatavanawai. The co-captain shredded tackles up the middle and the back-pedalling Force couldn’t keep up. The hosts stretched the defence left then right, and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens stabbed a grubber through for Lowe to regather and score under the posts. Millar converted. (Highlanders 24–21)
59 mins – TRY HIGHLANDERS: Tangitau touched down after a bullet pass from Nareki. Great work from Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens forced possession deep in the Force 22, and Nareki’s long ball bounced up perfectly for Tangitau to step inside and score untouched. Millar missed the conversion. (Highlanders 29–21)
65 mins – TRY FORCE: Carlo Tizzano kept the contest alive. The Force fetcher made two clutch steals in two minutes before powering over from an attacking maul. Max Burey missed the conversion. (Highlanders 29–26)
68 mins – TRY FORCE: The Force hit the front! Darby Lancaster burst through midfield and streaked into the 22. The visitors shifted it left, and Kurtley Beale linked with George Bridge, who barged through three defenders to score. Burey missed the conversion. (Force 31–29)
70 mins – TRY HIGHLANDERS: A special team try from the Highlanders. Nareki chipped a cheeky kick over the top for himself to chase, regathering and bursting into the 22. He found Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, who was stopped just short. The Highlanders saw space and shifted right, with Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens chipping over the top for Tangitau to collect and score. Reesjan Pasitoa converted. (Highlanders 36–31)
77 mins – PENALTY HIGHLANDERS: Pasitoa sealed the victory. Soane Vikena won a crucial turnover at the breakdown, and the former Force flyhalf made no mistake from 35 metres. (Highlanders 39–31)
Full-time: Highlanders 39–31
Teams
Highlanders: 15 Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 14 Caleb Tangitau, 13 Jonah Lowe, 12 Timoci Tavatavanawai (co-c), 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Cameron Millar, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Nikora Broughton, 7 Veveni Lasaqa, 6 Te Kamaka Howden, 5 Mitch Dunshea, 4 Oliver Haig, 3 Angus Ta’avao, 2 Jack Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot (co-c).
Replacements: 16 Soane Vikena, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Sosefo Kautai, 19 Will Stodart, 20 Sean Withy, 21 Adam Lennox, 22 Reesjan Pasitoa, 23 Tanielu Tele’a.
Western Force: 15 Mac Grealy, 14 Darby Lancaster, 13 Divad Palu, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 George Bridge, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Nathan Hastie, 8 Vaiolini Ekuasi, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 5 Darcy Swain, 4 Jeremy Williams (c), 3 Harry Johnson-Holmes, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Tom Robertson.
Replacements: 16 Nic Dolly, 17 Sef Fa’agase, 18 Misinale Epenisa, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Will Harris, 21 Henry Robertson, 22 Max Burey, 23 Kurtley Beale.
Match details
Highlanders 39 (Tries: Lasaqa, Lowe 2, Tangitau 2; Conversions: Millar 3/4, Pasitoa 1/1; Penalties: Millar 1, Pasitoa 1)
Western Force 31 (Tries: Ekuasi, Williams, Stewart, Tizzano, Bridge; Conversions: Donaldson 3/5)
Half-time: 17–21
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Attendance: 13,570
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Maggie Cogger-Orr, Warwick Lahmert
TMO: Richard Kelly
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