HIGHLANDERS RECRUITMENT BALANCE

They come into 2018 looking to be a slightly weaker side than they were last year. The main reason is the loss of Marty Banks, Malakai Fekitoa and Patrick Osborne.

That’s three good men to lose and leaves them a bit light in the back division. They have recruited well from the Mitre 10 Cup and Tyrel Lomax is an intriguing prospect but they needed to find at least one power player to come in for Fekitoa or Osborne.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT TACTICALLY?

What we know is that new coach Aaron Mauger is smart, articulate, visionary and level-headed. He was a class act as a midfielder and his honesty, transparency and dedication to the basics will sit well with the Highlanders.

The tactical kicking of Aaron Smith, Lima Sopoaga and Ben Smith will be key and the Highlanders will try to find ways to speed the game up, use their relentless defence and character to get over the top of teams.

GUT FEEL – RISERS OR FALLERS?

The Highlanders have possibly overachieved in recent years which kind of says they are due for a corrective year. They have the brilliant Smiths to paper over a lot of their cracks and Waisake Naholo to finish from nothing, but we don’t think they have the depth to weather the inevitable injuries and may not be able to get by on resilience, character and spirit the way they have.

WHERE WILL THEY FINISH?

Last year we said last in the New Zealand Conference and were nearly right. We are going with the same prediction again.