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.
RedsKing
Guest
Lions would have won by a lot more had Jantjies and Faf started... there is a reason why the Lions suddenly piled on the points in the second half. Faf is by far the best scrumhalf in the competition this year.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
It's a massive blight on the game. The quality of reffing throughout the competition is the worst i have ever seen. One has to think that possibly the financial benefits of having teams in the finals has trumped the integrity of the game. I think an official investigation needs to be launched into the possibility of refs being influenced by home nations and that's across the board. Home advantage has become blatant bias. One has to think pressure is being put on these refs from somewhere because they are putting their integrity on the line every week and doing nothing to hide the fact many of them have none.
Digby
Roar Guru
Cheers Rob
kesmcc
Roar Pro
for me the worst was when he repeatedly awarded penalties against the landers for holding on at the breakdown when the tackler never released at all let alone rolled away.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
For sure they need to appoint at least neutral refs ...
RobC
Roar Guru
CONGRATULATIONS TO GOLDEN LIONS WHO WINS 28 TO 23 AT HOME VS THE HIGHLANDERS I will post the stats and summaries later. After Harry's Game! :D
RobC
Roar Guru
Thanks for joining folks Now its time to mosey over to Harry's game Stormers Brumbies! http://www.theroar.com.au/2015/05/10/stormers-vs-brumbies-2015-super-rugby-live-scores-blog/
Wii
Guest
It's hard to defend against 16 players RT especially when one has the whistle. That 2nd 40 was an absolute joke and the best team was robbed in plain daylight by some of the most blatant one eyed officiating we have seen this season.
kamoshika
Guest
There are calls that go the home team's way, but then there are calls that calls that consistently go the home team's way and that is what so often happens in Johannesburg (not just this year).
Wii
Guest
Very disappointing performance on the whistle there from Joubert tonight, the blatant knock on by Jantes went unpunished and they scored a penalty at the other end of the park to take the lead. I'm getting sick and tired of poor home town officiating. I see Tahs fans are a bit annoyed in the last match as are Sharks fans, something has to be done to take away any perceived bias. Neutral refs must be reinstated end of story!
RobC
Roar Guru
haha. if its Dragon, they would have to turn off the 4 letter words haha
RobC
Roar Guru
Landers Captain Nasi Manu, credits the Lions 2H. Next week is going to be a big week. Happy mom's message to all mothers, and to his mum And to MY MUM TOO!!!
Rugby Tragic
Guest
I am aware of the penalty count Will, (10-3) .. but I fell the Highlanders D was not as resilient as in their earlier matches.
RobC
Roar Guru
Lions Captain Warren Whiteley, a happy man. Credits to the Landers. Not sure what happened in 1H. Glad to win it
RobC
Roar Guru
cheers buddy. Looking forward to the next one Best of luck in your next game Im torn for that game, somewhat. Aussie team vs Stormers
kesmcc
Roar Pro
absolutely, i usually don't mind joubert but that was ridiculous. definitely the worst performance i've seen him put in
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Yes but its not as if you are typing one or two word details! ... do you use Dragon Speaking or something??
Wii
Guest
They didn't také their foot off at all RT they were simply whistled out of the game, it was another inept performance by a home town official. SANZAR must do something about this, it is becoming absurd and making an absolute mockery of super rugby. The South African commentators mentioned on more than one occasion in that second 40 that the Highlanders were being hard done by with the lions getting questionable calls go their way. The Lions played well but they got away with a lot and it was a lopsided second 40 mins by a long way.
RobC
Roar Guru
Jaco K MOTM by SR. Mine too. This man has come to life in this game. He was Currie Cup's Superman too Inspiring speech by home. Sounds like a NY mafia hitman.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Commiserations Highlander... it was a game I think your side gave away...