Pack power restored for Highlanders
SIMEON COOPE RUGBY: The Highlanders have strengthened their scrum and stacked the bench with impact forwards to combat South Africa’s buoyant Lions and the energysapping effects of altitude in their Super Rugby semifinal in Johannesburg.
Although head coach Jamie Joseph is anticipating a freeflowing encounter at Ellis Park on Sunday [NZ time] and the Lions are not as set-piece obsessed as their rivals in the Africa group, the Highlanders have still adopted a pragmatic approach at the set piece.
The selection of a mobile forward pack in anticipation of favourable conditions in Canberra last Friday was undermined by the weather and although clear skies are predicted over Johannesburg this weekend, the selection of two specialist locks appears prudent.
Though Luke Whitelock did an admirable job against the Brumbies - and the scrum was solid when required during the last 10 minutes - veteran Alex Ainley returns to the second row to add ballast alongside Tom Franklin. Whitelock returns to his usual position at No 8, leaving Liam Squire to offer impetus off the bench.
James Lentjes, who featured in the latter stages of the Highlanders’ push for the title 12 months ago, faces the same assignment this season as he is reinstated on the openside flank for co-captain Shane Christie.
Lentjes only started for the first time this year against the Jaguares in the penultimate round of the regular season but successfully made the adjustment from training and club rugby to keep the more dynamic Dan Pryor in reserve.
Tongan prop Siosuia Halanukonuka was the only injury casualty from the quarterfinal with an ankle injury ruling him out for the remainder of the campaign, he is replaced on the bench by Ross Geldenhuys.
As forecast when he joined the team en route to South Africa, back-up first five-eighth Marty Banks returns from a hamstring strain for his fifth appearance of a season frustrated by injury.
Banks replaces rookie Otago pivot Fletcher Smith while the starting backline is predictably unchanged.
Meanwhile, the Lions are confident they can bounce back from a 34-15 loss to the Highlanders on March 12 in Dunedin, where they were outscored four tries to two the round after they upset the Chiefs in Hamilton.
Attack coach Swys de Bruin
said a video review of that loss - and their performance in eliminating the Crusaders last weekend - indicated the squad was ready to combat another Kiwi side.
‘‘I showed the guys a few clips of when we played them and they couldn’t believe the basic mistakes we made,’’ De Bruin told Supersport.
‘‘We were not good at a few fundamentals. We did not protect our ball well, we gave away some bad turnovers, we didn’t pick our running lines well.
‘‘From that point of view we’ve improved a lot,’’ he said, admitting they were too slow to adapt to the Highlanders’ defensive systems at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
‘‘In that game they didn’t use the rush defence before then so they outsmarted us that day. But if you are accurate and carry hard, and take the initiative to them, then you can’t really rush.’’
The Lions are yet to finalise their line-up and are anxious for captain and key loose forward Warren Whiteley to overcome a calf strain.