'Embarrassing' scenes as power cut stops Super Rugby game between Moana Pasifika and Highlanders
Updated . First published at
This article originally appeared on Stuff and is reproduced with permission
All Blacks contender Caleb Tangitau grabbed two tries for the Highlanders but debutant halfback Nic Shearer was the brightest spark as the lights went out for Moana Pasifika - literally and figuratively.
With an hour gone and the Highlanders leading 39-19, one of the stadium floodlights at North Harbour Stadium failed and a power outage then cut the coverage on Sky Sport.
Play was paused for more than 20 minutes and eventually resumed without the TV coverage, with Sky informing viewers that it couldn't broadcast the final quarter.
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A Sky TV camera operator looks on as a power cut disables transmission. Getty
No further points were scored after the coverage went down, but there will be serious questions asked of North Harbour Stadium management after the embarrassing state of affairs.
Earlier, Shearer, 22, provided the speed around the ruck that has been largely missing for the Highlanders this season, with former All Black Folau Fakatava dropped for the trip to the North Shore.
On the evidence of Friday evening Fakatava has a job on his hands to regain his starting place.
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Referee Damon Murphy looks on as play is paused due to a power cut. Getty
Shearer, a standout for Southland in the NPC last year, showed that form can translate into Super Rugby with a sharp and assured performance in the No.9 jersey.
His crisp passing and footwork was a feature of his play against Moana Pasifika, and he was constantly scanning the backfield for space in a sign that he is a heads-up footballer.
The Highlanders scored four unanswered tries in the first half on the back of Shearer's play at No.9 and Tangitau showed his finishing prowess with tries in the seventh and 27th minutes.
Shearer got on scoresheet himself in the first play of the second after Tangitau had regathered the restart.
New All Blacks coach Dave Rennie would have been satisfied with Tangitau's work rate and desire to get off his wing to look for the ball.
The Highlanders had been forced into two late changes as their sole All Black Ethan de Groot (paternity leave) and co-captain Timoci Tavatavanawai (foot) were ruled out out.
Players wait for play to resume after a power cut. Getty
However, it was one-way traffic for the first 40 minutes as the return of Argentine lock Tomas Lavanini stabilised their wobbly lineout.
For Moana Pasifika coach Tana Umaga, the issues continue to pile up in his last season in charge before he joins Rennie at the All Blacks.
In front of another modest crowd in Albany, Moana Pasifika clearly missed the injured Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa (head knock) and they suffered further injury blows as halfback Joel Lam, midfielder Lalomilo Lalomilo and flanker Niko Jones were all forced off.
They also lost William Havili and Glen Vaihu to yellow cards and when one of the floodlights failed in the second half it seemed like a metaphor for Moana Pasifika's season.
The Highlanders' bonus-point win temporarily vaults them into a playoffs spot, but they will need other results to go their way over the weekend to stay there.
The Highlanders and Moana Pasifika both have the bye next weekend.
