//Getty Images
|
Preview: Highlanders v Hurricanes
Sportal.co.nz - (22/04/2010)
Needing competition points should be sufficient incentive for the Hurricanes to avoid the sort of malaise which has marred its recent Rebel Sport Super 14 games with the Highlanders even if the game is in Dunedin.
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 14 - Highlanders 5, Hurricanes 9.
LAST TIME: April 28, 2009 (Wellington) - Hurricanes 22-17 Highlanders.
LAST TIME AT VENUE: April 28, 2008 - Highlanders 6-10 Hurricanes.
MATCH ODDS: NZ TAB (Wednesday): Highlanders $2.80, Hurricanes $1.40.
WALKING WOUNDED: The Highlanders made only one change to their starting XV, replacing Matt Berquist with Michael Hobbs. Andrew Hore recovered sufficiently from a deep knee gash to take his place in the Hurricanes, so the only changes Colid Cooper made were voluntary. Karl Lowe returns from illness to the starting XV, while Bryn Evans is promoted ahead of Jeremy Thrush. Piri Weepu, back from a family bereavement, only gets as far as the bench.
FORM:
PAST FIVE Highlanders:
Round 6: Lost to Sharks 16-30
Round 7: Beat Lions 39-29
Round 8: Lost to Chiefs 21-26
Round 9: Lost to Force 27-41
Round 10: Bye
PAST FIVE Hurricanes:
Round 6: Lost to Bulls 18-19
Round 7: Lost to Sharks 26-29
Round 8: Drew with Crusaders 26-26
Round 9: Bye
Round 10: Beat Brumbies 23-13
The cynical among us might suggest the Highlanders got one of their best results in recent rounds by not playing a week ago. They were simply so bad against the Force that a week off to regroup was the best thing that could happen and, while they're condemned to playing out the string now, they can still be nuisance value against a number of teams on the fringes of the four. The Hurricanes won for the first time since week three at Canberra and did it with a mixture of determination on their part and some terrible play from the Brumbies, who controlled possession to an almost embarrassing degree but did nothing with it. Ill discipline threatened to derail the Hurricanes early on, as two men were sent to the sin bin, but the 14 remaining managed to find ways to stop the Brumbies getting away. The local crowd may not have been thrilled with Jonathan Kaplan but their ire would have been better directed at the home XV, who deserved to get beaten on the night and were by a better team.
WHO'S HOT: When the Highlanders last played, two weeks ago, they were dreadful. The discipline was ordinary and the defence non-existent, allowing the Force inside backs to carve huge holes in the line and create half a dozen tries while two senior players were binned in the first spell. About the only player to emerge from that match with credit was veteran prop Chris King, who was strong, accurate and honest. The Hurricanes got off the slide thanks to some hard work by the pack, who made a ton of tackles and were strong around the fringes. Rodney So'oialo had his best game of the year to date and his work-rate was huge. Victor Vito is maturing as a blindside flanker and his all-round game has come on greatly in the last year. Conrad Smith is a bloke who never drops his standards and he's having another very solid season; most of the good things that happen in the Hurricanes backline revolve around him.
WE THINK: There seems to be something about these games that brings out the worst in the sides and a number of clashes in recent years have been pretty ordinary fare. That said, the Hurricanes normally manage to find a way to win and we think they'll do so again, probably by about 10 points. It would be no surprise if tries are hard to come by, though, and our call is that the 'Canes may struggle to get a bonus point.
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. Michael Hobbs, 11. Fetu'u Vainikolo, 12. Jason Shoemark, 13.Kendrick Lynn, 14.Ben Smith, 15.Israel Dagg.
Reserves: 16.Peter Mirrielees, 17.Bronson Murray, 18.Joe Tuineau, 19.John Hardie, 20.Scott Cowan, 21. Robbie Robinson, 22. James Paterson.
Hurricanes: 1.John Schwalger, 2.Andrew Hore (captain), 3.Neemia Tialata, 4. Bryn Evans, 5.Michael Paterson, 6.Victor Vito, 7.Karl Lowe, 8.Rodney So'oialo, 9. Tyson Keats, 10. Aaron Cruden, 11. Hosea Gear, 12.Ma'a Nonu, 13.Conrad Smith, 14.Tamati Ellison, 15. Cory Jane.
Reserves: 16.Dane Coles, 17 Jacob Ellison, 18. Jeremy Thrush, 19.Nick Crosswell, 20. Piri Weepu, 21. Jason Kawau, 22. David Smith.
REFEREE: Vinny Munro
Pass It On
0