All Blacks staying and going
THIS is when the cream rises to the top.
When the hard questions are asked and those up to the task come forward.
Or it could just come back to who does not drown in the Christchurch bog.
As the Highlanders run out tonight to take on the Crusaders in a doordie quarterfinal, the storm that has poured water all over the east of the South Island is going to have a big impact.
It is never great for a game to be so dictated by the weather but it is a winter game and, like it or not, winter brings rain and also chill.
The Highlanders would undoubtedly prefer a hard and fast track and that is definitely not going to happen.
So it will be one of those games in which it comes down to who makes the fewest mistakes.
Often in these sorts of matches it is easier to play without the ball.
Whatever happens, there is going to be plenty of kicking and not being in their own territory will be a key for both teams.
Highlanders first fiveeighth Lima Sopoaga will be an important figure tonight and his dual with his opposite, Richie Mo’unga, will go a long way to deciding which side wins.
Sopoaga said yesterday the onus would be on him to do things right.
‘‘You’ve just got to control the game and make sure I bring my kicking boots. It could come down to a few points at the end,’’ he said.
‘‘I’ve played there a few times. It is not like kicking indoors. Hopefully, I can get out there nice and early and have a few kicks.
‘‘I just think it is the team that adapts the quickest to the conditions is probably going to win. Hopefully, we can do that.
‘‘Every week we have relied on the forwards and they have done an awesome job and they’ll have to do that again.’’
With the Crusaders fielding seven All Blacks in their starting forward pack, the home team obviously has a lot of muscle to present up front.
Ironically, the only nonAll Black in the Crusaders forward pack — Jordan Taufua — may be one of the game’s most dominant figures. His hardrunning style will be ideally suited to a game where the ball is not expected to go far from the forwards.
Liam Squire will be a big plus for the Highlanders, along with No 8 Sam Whitelock.
The Highlanders have not played too many games in the wet this year, although they bagged a victory against the Bulls in the rain at Pretoria.
Players who do not make mistakes are the ones who come to the fore in these games.
The set piece is important and this will be where the home team holds the trump card. It has a scrum that can dictate, although the Highlanders have stood strong with most teams during the season.
Should the game be drawn at fulltime, two periods of 10 minutes of extra time will be played. If the game is still tied, another 10 minutes of suddendeath time is played and the team that scores first wins.
Should the teams still be drawn, a kickoff featuring five kickers from each side will occur.