//Getty Images
|
Preview: Highlanders v Force
Sportal.co.nz - (9/04/2010)
The Highlanders will have a match on their hands when they play the Force who are fresh off a big win over the Stormers. Both sides are struggling to win this season so a good result in Queenstown could provide a platform off which to finish the season strongly.
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 4 - Highlanders 2, Western Force 2.
LAST TIME: April 28, 2009 (Perth) - Western Force 33-28 Highlanders.
LAST TIME AT VENUE: April 28, 2008 - Highlanders 28-36 Western Force.
WALKING WOUNDED: The Highlanders made only one change from the starting XV beaten last week, switching Robbie Robinson to the bench and promoting Matt Berquist. Scott Staniforth is out with a torn calf this week but the news isn't all bad for John Mitchell; Cameron Shepherd returns after finally recovering from a thigh injury and recently returned loosies David Pocock and Richard Brown are both getting back to their best form.
FORM:
PAST FIVE Highlanders:
Round 4: Lost to Stormers 0-33
Round 5: Lost to Bulls 35-50
Round 6: Lost to Sharks 16-30
Round 7: Beat Lions 39-29
Round 8: Lost to Chiefs 21-26
PAST FIVE Western Force:
Round 4: Bye
Round 5: Lost to Reds 10-50
Round 6: Lost to Waratahs 10-14
Round 7: Lost to Bulls 15-28
Round 8: Beat Stormers 16-15
With both these teams in the bottom four, you have to believe neither has played up to expectations this year. That's true for the Highlanders, who had a miserable run against the leading South African teams sandwiched between wins over the weaker ones, and their playoff hopes are gone already. The Force began in even worse fashion, dropping six straight before claiming that last-minute win against the Stormers at Perth. Scoring points has been the Force's greatest weakness; in recent weeks the defence has been keeping the side in games but the attack just can't finish things off. The Highlanders aren't heavy scorers either, although it's the defence that will be the greater concern going into this match.
WHO'S HOT: Not many players from either side are in great nick at present, but Chris King earns a mention on the back of a strong match at Mt Maunganui last week, when he put a bulldozer through the Chiefs scrum and worked hard around the pitch. Hayden Triggs has discovered a previously unsuspected vein of try-scoring form but it will be his aerial work against the Force big men that counts for most on Saturday. One of the most improved Highlanders backs has been centre Kendrick Lynn, whose form has been consistently good this year. The Force will be glad to have the dynamic Pocock and hard-working Brown back in the fold after prolonged absences and these two could well prove the most influential players on the park this week. They work well as a pair and can do a lot of damage to the opposition. With the Force backs still to cut loose we haven't seen much of James O'Connor this season, but he has the ability to create plenty of gaps if he gets a modicum of room while his work off the kicking tee has been very sound.
WE THINK: This was a tough game to call and we're going against the betting agencies by suggesting the Force will be good enough to win it. We see it as a match between the organised Force defence and a moderate Highlanders attack, which may not be good enough to break the Aussies down. Our call is a Force win by 5-8 points.
TEAMS:
Highlanders: 1.Chris King, 2.Jason Rutledge, 3.Clint Newland, 4.Josh Bekhuis, 5.Hayden Triggs, 6. Adam Thomson, 7. Alando Soakai, 8. Steven Setephano, 9.Jimmy Cowan (captain), 10. Matt Berquist, 11. Fetu'u Vainikolo, 12. Jason Shoemark, 13.Kendrick Lynn, 14.Ben Smith, 15.Israel Dagg.
Reserves: 16.Jason MacDonald, 17.Bronson Murray, 18.Joe Tuineau, 19.Tim Boys, 20.Sean Romans, 21. Robbie Robinson, 22. Jayden Hayward.
Force: 1. Pekahou Cowan, 2.Ben Whittaker, 3.Tim Fairbrother, 4.Tom Hockings, 5.Nathan Sharpe (captain), 6. Matt Hodgson, 7.David Pocock, 8.Richard Brown, 9. Chris O'Young, 10.David Hill, 11.Mark Bartholomeusz, 12.Ryan Cross, 13.Mitch Inman, 14.Cameron Shepherd, 15.James O'Connor.
Reserves: 16.Nathan Charles, 17. Matt Dunning, 18.Ben McCalman, 19. Sam Wykes, 20.Justin Turner, 21. Sam Harris 22. Dane Haylett-Petty.
REFEREE: Marius Jonker
Pass It On
0