Preview: S14, Round Three, Day Two
Super Saturday's crunch Super 14 Round Three clashes offer two mouth-watering derby matches, one perhaps more in dire need of a bucket than the other.
Super Saturday's crunch Super 14 Round Three clashes offer two mouth-watering derby matches, one perhaps more in dire need of a bucket than the other.
The baby Brumbies host the rejuvenated Reds in the first Australian derby match of the year – a game which has history in the making should the hosts fail at home.
In South Africa, last year's Super 14 final comes alive again as the Sharks look to avenge their heartbreaking loss to the Bulls in a rematch at Loftus Versfeld.
And in other matches, the Highlanders will be looking to make their own luck against the Waratahs in Dunedin while the Blues take aim at the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
Highlanders v Waratahs
Carisbrook, Dunedin, 19.35 (06.35 GMT)
The Highlanders go into their third round match winless after close and frustrating away losses to the Reds (16-22) and the Brumbies (20-22).
The Waratahs however arrive in Dunedin with a 50 per cent win ratio after their 20-3 win over the Hurricanes in Sydney and a last-minute 17-20 loss to the Chiefs in Hamilton last weekend.
For the Highlanders, a win in their first home game of the 2008 tournament will be just reward after proving they are no pushovers following a loss of key players last year.
The men from the south have been right on the money with their game-plan, but like so many of the Super 14 teams so far in this competition, the execution has been a problem.
Oh, how the Highlanders' players would have been pulling at their mullets after a knock-on by Toby Morland cancelled out any hope of a last-minute win over the Brumbies.
To make matters worse, the Highlanders haven't been helped with the suspension of fly-half Daniel Bowden, who was cited for a dangerous tackle last week. It will be interesting to see what replacement Mike Delany can conjure at number ten.
But Highlanders coach Glenn Moore has refused to push any panic buttons, despite the frustrations of just two points to show from two extremely winnable games. Changes are therefore kept to an absolute minimum this week as the southerners await their Sydney visitors.
For the Waratahs it was a bad case of “close but no cigar” against the Chiefs after a spirited fightback was halted by a last-minute Stephen Donald penalty kick.
The positives to be taken from the Waratahs' camp will be to never give up – even if you are 17-0 down!
The negatives to be taken from the Waratahs' camp will be the loss of tighthead prop Al Baxter, forcing a front row reshuffle for their showdown with the big, bruising Highlanders pack.
With both sides desperate to avoid two successive losses, the team with a more structured approach could decide who goes home the winner.
Super head to head: The scrap for the ball on the deck between Highlanders' flanker Alando Soakai and Waratahs' skipper Phil Waugh should be an intriguing one. You can't win a game if you haven't got any ball and possession will be paramount to both teams' causes.
Prediction: Luck has certainly not been on the Highlanders' side thus far. But if the “rub of the green” can finally land in their favour, the Highlanders team might just have what it takes to pull off a surprise home win. Highlanders to edge the Waratahs by three points.
Highlanders: 15 James Wilson, 14 Paul Williams, 13 Niva Ta'auso, 12 Johnny Leota, 11 Fetus Vainikolo, 10 Michael Delany, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Steven Setephano, 7 Alando Soakai, 6 Hayden Triggs, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Isaac Ross, 3 Clint Newland, 2 Jason Macdonald (c), 1 Jamie Mackintosh.
Replacements: 16 David Hall, 17 Chris King, 18 Adam Thomson, 19 Tim Boys, 20 Toby Morland, 21 Ben W Smith, 22 Brett Mather.
Waratahs: 15 Lachie Turner, 14 Timana Tahu, 13 Ben Jacobs, 12 Tom Carter, 11 Lote Tuqiri, 10 Kurtley Beale, 9 Brett Sheehan, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Phil Waugh (c), 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Dan Vickerman, 4 Will Caldwell, 3 Matt Dunning, 2 Adam Freier, 1 Sekope Kepu
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Dan Palmer, 18 Dean Mumm, 19 Beau Robinson, 20 Luke Burgess, 21 Sam Harris,22 Alfi Mafi
Referee: JC Fortuin (South Africa)
Touch judges: Craig Joubert (South Africa), Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
Television match official: Shane McDermott (New Zealand)
Assessor: Kim Eichmann (New Zealand)
Performance auditor: Stuart Beissel (New Zealand)
Brumbies v Reds
Canberra Stadium, Canberra, 19.40 (08.40 GMT)
The Reds have never won in Canberra and have beaten the Brumbies just once in 13 meetings, but they will never get a better chance against a Brumbies outfit who are vulnerable due to a dreadful injury run.
Laurie Fisher's baby Brumbies did well to overcome the Highlanders last week, but further injuries see them starting as underdogs in this crucial Australian derby match.
Fisher has picked his fourth-choice centre pair in Tyrone Smith and rookie Leo Afeaki, giving the Reds a pocket to attack.
“At the end of the day whoever they play doesn't really make any difference,” said Reds coach Phil Mooney.
“We've prepared all week and we've got a style of game that we want to play and there's no more pressure than normal.”
The Reds have suffered costly blows of their own with Hugh McMeniman (ankle) and Sam Cordingley (groin) injured. However, the Reds' more experienced backline should win the day if their forwards stand up and be counted.
Super head to head: There is no love lost between the Reds and the Brumbies, and there certainly won't be any gained between Chris Latham and Julian Huxley. The Wallaby duo will be down each other's throats with up-and-unders in a bid to put pressure on one another under the high ball. And with Latham seeking greener pastures once his contract with the ARU runs out, Huxley will be out to prove that he is the next best choice in the number fifteen jersey when the veteran full-back departs.
Prediction: The flawless boot of Clinton Schifcofske may be the difference in a tight contest, but the Reds also have enough experience in the backs to suggest they'll make the most of their opportunities. The Reds to make history and win by the closest of margins.
Brumbies: 15 Julian Huxley, 14 Mark Gerrard, 13 Sanualio Afeaki, 12 Tyrone Smith, 11 Francis Fainifo, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Patrick Phibbs, 8 Stephen Hoiles, 7 George Smith (c), 6 Mitchell Chapman, 5 Mark Chisholm, 4 Adam Wallace-Harrison, 3 Guy Shepherdson, 2 Saia Faingaa, 1 Nic Henderson.
Replacements: 16 Huia Edmonds, 17 Salesi Ma'afu, 18 Peter Kimlin, 19 Julian Salvi, 20 Joshua Holmes, 21 Peter Playford, 22 Afusipa Taumoepeau.
Reds: 15 Chris Latham, 14 Digby Ioane, 13 Morgan Turinui, 12 Chris Siale, 11 Clinton Schifcofske, 10 Berrick Barnes, 9 Will Genia, 8 Leroy Houston, 7 David Croft, 6 John Roe (c), 5 James Horwill, 4 Van Humphries, 3 Rodney Blake, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Greg Holmes.