Western Force 'let slip' another match in huge blow to finals hopes in one-try game - but it's not all bad news
Nic White summed it up. It was a step forward but “you’ve got to feel like that’s just another one that we’ve let slip…
The Kings and the Highlanders will meet today in a match that looks likely to be very one-sided. Join The Roar for live scores from the match, starting from 3:20am (AEST).
You won’t find much larger contrasts in the Super Rugby competition than those between these two teams. The Kings are a struggling side who sit at the bottom of the African group, while the Highlanders are the reigning Super Rugby champs.
That said, the Highlanders aren’t quite in the position they were last year. In fact if the season were to come to an end now, they would miss out on finals – so they have some work to do.
This match presents them with a great opportunity to build their case for a finals spot, with the chance not just to win but to win well, and push for a bonus point in doing so.
That would see them draw just a point behind the Hurricanes – who they faced in last year’s Super Rugby final – in the New Zealand conference.
Importantly, they would overtake both the Waratahs and (should they have lost to the Lions) the Sharks, pushing the lower of the two out of a wildcard spot for the time being.
As far as the Kings go, there’s little for them to get out of this game. With only three games left now even a sudden and enormous change of fortunes would still see them fall well short of any chance of qualifying for finals.
Another win or two before the season is out could see them overtake the Sunwolves and possibly the Jaguares, so that must be their motivation. Even so, they just don’t seem capable of causing an upset here.
Prediction
Anything other than a very comfy win for the Highlanders would be a significant surprise.
Highlanders by 20.
Join The Roar for live scores from the match, starting from 3:20am (AEST).