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The Highlanders would not the let the Hurricanes taste revenge on Saturday, securing a 1-point win over the team they defeated in last year’s Super Rugby grand final.
Final score
Highlanders 17
Hurricanes 16
The replay of last year’s final features two Round 1 losers desperate to atone for their initial setbacks. Join The Roar for live and scores coverage of the Hurricanes and the Highlanders from Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin starting at 5:35pm AEDT.
Matches between these two rivals are generally close-run battles. In 14 of the last 15 matches between these two sides, the winner has won by seven points or less, the only exception being the Hurricanes 56-20 regular season win last year. That game was just hours after Jerry Collins passed away.
The Hurricanes will be determined to bury the demons of the 2015 final and last weeks’ Brumbies shellacking – their second biggest loss in franchise history.
Coach Chris Boyd has resisted wholesale changes making just one enforced change to the starting XV. All Black Nehe Milner-Skudder is scratched because of a leg injury and is replaced by James Marshall who scored a spectacular try in the before-mentioned 56-20 game.
Elsewhere wounded professional pride will surely be enough motivation to spark a huge improvement from the Hurricanes. The side features eight survivors in the starting XV from last year’s decider and six All Blacks.
The Highlanders have made three changes from the team that lost narrowly to the Blues. Brendon Edmonds who was the starting loosehead last season returns at the expense of Daniel Lienert-Brown who goes to the bench. Number Eight Liam Squire is regulated to the bench. Luke Whitelock takes his place at the back of the scrum in his 51st Super Rugby game and debut for the Highlanders.
The withdrawal of Waisake Naholo due to injury provides local boy Matt Faddes with a chance to stake a claim for the vacant wing berth.
Where will this game be won and lost?
The Highlanders midfield of All Black Malakai Fekitoa and Teihorangi Walden, who impressed against the Blues, will look to exploit the inexperience of Vince Aso and Ngani Laumape who looked very fragile last week.
The Hurricanes scrum imploded against the Brumbies and rookie hooker Leni Apisai will be sorely tested by Liam Coltman.
Both teams are dangerous counter-attacking units so mistakes in open play will be punished.
Prediction – Highlanders by five.
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.