Preview: Highlanders v Reds
The Highlanders will be determined to deliver an impressive performance when they take on the Reds in Dunedin on Friday.
With the quarter-finals looming on the horizon, the 2015 champions will be hoping to make a statement of intent ahead of the play-offs by hitting their straps against the Reds who are amongst the tournament's also-rans.
Things will not be easy though as the Reds head into this match with some confidence after they beat the Australian Conference table-toppers, the Brumbies, in Brisbane last weekend.
Although the Highlanders are at home and will start this fixture as favourites, they can expect a tough assignment from the Reds who have been very competitive in this fixture over the years. Each of the last eight games between these teams have seen the losing team pick up a bonus point and on six occasions in that span it has been the Queensland-based side who have emerged victorious.
However, only once from nine attempts in Super Rugby history have the Reds defeated the Highlanders when playing away from home, earning a one-point win against them when these sides clashed in Round 7, 2013.
The Highlanders have earned competition points from each of their last 21 regular season games against teams from outside New Zealand, winning 18 of those games and earning a bonus point in the three losses in that period.
The last time the Reds ended their Super Rugby regular season with a game against New Zealand opposition saw them net a 19-11 win against the Chiefs in 2011.
The Highlanders have won their last three games played on a Friday, scoring an average of 51 points per game across that period.
Although they have already booked their play-off berth, this match is still quite important for the Highlanders. They are currently in seventh spot position in the overall standings and will be keen to hold on to their ranking for the finals.
If they lose to the Reds, and the Sharks claim a bonus-point triumph against the Lions on Saturday, the Durban-based outfit could finish seventh and the Highlanders eighth on the final table.
The last time these teams met: The Reds claimed a shock 28-27 win over the Highlanders in a Round 7 encounter in Brisbane last year. Both sides scored three tries apiece with Liam Gill, Nick Frisby and Samu Kerevi crossing the whitewash for the Reds, and Aaron Smith, Malakai Fekitoa and Lima Sopoaga dotted down for the Highlanders.
Players to watch: Although the Highlanders have several attacking threats, keep an eye on prolific try-scorer Waisake Naholo. When on song, he is one of the game's best finishers and difficult to stop once he builds up a head of steam. Naholo was ruled out the All Blacks' final Test due to concussion, sustained in the second Test, and will be keen to add to the eight tries he's scored in this year's tournament.
For the Reds, experienced lock Rob Simmons is one player who will be determined to make an impact as this will be his last match for the men from Brisbane after the franchise opted not to renew his contract. Simmons played on the blinside flank last week against the Brumbies and walked off with the Man-of-the-Match award after a superb performance. He will be hoping to continue where he left off in that fixture and will pack down in the second row, which is his preferred position.
Team news: Liam Squire, who has been sidelined with injury since Round 11 after breaking his thumb against the Cheetahs, returns to the starting line-up in the blindside flank position. All Blacks Aaron and Ben Smith will be rested for this game while Liam Coltman, Malakai Fekitoa and Waisake Naholo will run out as starters. Maori All Black representatives, Tom Franklin and Rob Thompson make the starting line-up and Ash Dixon is in the reserves. The side will be co-captained by Luke Whitelock and Dixon.
Reds coach Nick Stiles has made two changes to his starting side after last weekend's win over the Brumbies in Brisbane. Caleb Timu will make his run-on debut at blindside flanker, after making his Super Rugby debut off the bench last weekend, while Rob Simmons returns to his regular role of starting lock, with Kane Douglas shifting to the bench. Stiles has also named two potential debutants on the bench, with Australian U20 captain Reece Hewat in as a reserve flanker and Jayden Ngamanu as a reserve outside back.
Form: The Highlanders were last in action on June 3 when they suffered a gut-wrenching 25-22 defeat to the Crusaders in Christchurch. That ended a nine-match winning streak from the 2015 champions which stretched back to March 24 when they beat the Brumbies in Canberra.
The Reds have been very inconsistent especially in recent weeks. Their last five matches saw them suffer a heavy loss to the Chiefs before they bounced back with a victory against the Rebels. They were then beaten at home by the Force before losing to the Blues in Samoa but bounced back with a late win over the Brumbies in Canberra.
Prediction: The Highlanders will have too much firepower for their visitors and will win this one easliy. Highlanders to win by 12 points!
Previous results:
2016: Reds won 28-27 in Brisbane
2015: Highlanders won 20-13 in Dunedin
2014: Reds won 38-31 in Brisbane
2013: Reds won 34-33 in Dunedin
2012: Reds won 19-13 in Brisbane
2010: Reds won 38-36 in Brisbane
2009: Highlanders won 24-19 in Invercargill
2008: Reds won 22-16 in Brisbane
The teams:
Highlanders: 15 Richard Buckman, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Rob Thompson, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Kayne Hammington, 8 Luke Whitelock (cc), 7 James Lentjes, 6 Liam Squire, 5 Tom Franklin, 4 Jackson Hemopo, 3 Siate Tokolahi, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown
Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon (cc), 17 Aki Seiuli, 18 Guy Millar, 19 Gareth Evans, 20 Dan Pryor, 21 Josh Renton, 22 Marty Banks, 23 Patelesio Tomkinson
Reds: 15 Karmichael Hunt, 14 Izaia Perese, 13 Campbell Magnay, 12 Duncan Paia’aua, 11 Eto Nabuli, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 James Tuttle, 8 Adam Korczyk, 7 George Smith, 6 Caleb Timu, 5 Izack Rodda, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Stephen Moore (c), 1 Sef Fa’agase
Replacements: 16 Alex Mafi, 17 Markus Vanzati, 18 Sam Talakai, 20 Reece Hewat, 21 Moses Sorovi, 22 Hamish Stewart, 23 Jayden Ngamanu
Date: Friday, July 14
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Kick-off: 19:35 local (07:35 GMT)
Referee: Mike Fraser
Assistant Referees: Jamie Nutbrown, James Doleman
TMO: Aaron Paterson