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The Highlanders travel across the Tasman Sea, Australia and the Indian Ocean into Johannesburg and face the Lions in Super Rugby Round 13.
Join us here on The Roar from 11:00pm (AEST) for live scores and updates. The Lions have never lost to the Highlanders at home – and they aim to keep it that way.
The Highlanders have won only one match in their last six played in South Africa. If they want to retain their fifth spot and stave off the Lions threatening eighth place, they have to deliver something special. For starters, they need to score twice as many tries as the Lions, which has been happening this season so far.
The Highlanders not-so-secret weapon is right winger Waisake Naholo. He is tournament leader in tries scored and clean breaks. He’s among the highest tackle busters also, along with fullback Ben Smith and his in-form flyhalf, Lima Sopoaga, who are also top performers with ball in hand.
Sopoaga’s form in the international arena will be watched closely by New Zealand selectors, as they ponder about his ability to bring home the goods in the upcoming Rugby World Cup.
The Lions are biblical tacklers. Captain Warren Whiteley has tackled an immense 163 times this season so far. The second highest tackler is another Lion, aptly named Tecklenburg, who tackled a ‘mere’ 123 times. They need to be super biblical in this game for a full 80 minutes. The Highlanders can score their tries early in the game, but they ratchet it up between the 20th and 60th minutes.
So we have a game of big runners playing against big tacklers. Whilst the Highlanders would be aware Elton Jantjies, has one of the best kicking radars in the competition. They will also be aware that he is one of the worst tacklers in the. So is another half on their side: Aaron Smith.
Whilst the Lions’ power scrum has run aground quite literally, their lineout is very good. We may see a lot of that, because there’s probably a strict policy by the Lions to kick the ball to the stands, probably on pain of 100 dead arm punches. The alternative is punting the pill to the highest scoring back three in the competition, especially from their own half.
Another thing to look out for are close calls. The TMO on duty has been forced to make a considerable number of difficult decisions in the recent past, which has caused some ire.
According to the bookies, the gate itself is too close to call. But the Lions have been pretty good at winning the close ones. To win, the Highlanders need to stick to their core skills, exploit Lions weakness whilst also typing up their top tacklers and ruck disruptors – then score a flurry of first half tries.
If they are not focused or discipline early in the game, the Lions will be the proverbial headmaster and beat you at the tail end.
Join The Roar for live scores of the Lions and Highlanders from 11pm AEST, and feel free to share your thoughts on the game in the comments section below.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.