Harmon wants Landers to play freely — and win
Forsyth Barr Stadium, 4.35pm
FREEDOM!
Highlanders captain Billy Harmon will not be wearing blue face paint — or a kilt — but he will be asking his teammates to embrace their inner William Wallace when they host the Rebels this afternoon.
The Highlanders have had a generally poor season but they have a huge opportunity today, and another against the Reds six days later, to come up with positive performances at Forsyth Barr Stadium and get something out of the campaign.
Do they deserve to be in the playoff equation? It is a redundant question.
What is highly relevant is
Connor GardenBachop, Jonah Lowe, Fetuli Paea, Sam Gilbert, Jona Nareki, Freddie Burns, Aaron Smith, Hugh Renton, Billy Harmon (captain), Sean Withy, Max Hicks, Shannon Frizell, Jermaine Ainsley, Andrew Makalio, Ethan de Groot. Reserves: Leni Apisai, Daniel LienertBrown, Saula Ma’u, Marino MikaeleTu’u, James Lentjes, Folau Fakatava, Mitch Hunt, Thomas UmagaJensen.
Andrew Kellaway, Lachie Anderson, Lukas Ripley, Stacey Ili, Monty Ioane, Reece Hodge, Ryan Louwrens, Richard Hardwick, Brad Wilkin (captain), Vaiolini Ekuasi, Matt Philip, Josh Canham, Sam Talakai, Alex Mafi, Matt Gibbon. Reserves: Jordan Uelese, Isaac Aedo Kailea, Pone Fa’amausili, Trevor Hosea,Tamati Ioane, James Tuttle, Nick Jooste, Joe Pincus.
how the Highlanders respond to the allbut certain requirement to beat the Rebels today, and while winning is really all that matters, their captain wants to see his men cut loose.
‘‘Hopefully you see the boys playing freely,’’ Harmon said.
‘‘That’s what we’ve been trying to drive this week, even though this is sort of like a mustwin for us.
‘‘We’re almost treating it like a final but we just want to encourage everyone just to go out there and play their game and back believe.
‘‘We’ve been just having a really positive week and just driving the enjoyment of it.
‘‘The pressure is quite serious. But it’s up to us how we look at it, and it’s a challenge that we’re excited for.’’
A general Highlanders trend has been starting games with fizz and fire but fading down the stretch, reflecting either a lack of impact from the bench or a drop in confidence when the situation gets tight.
And it should be tight this afternoon.
Both teams have 38 records and 15 points, and are on the brink of missing the playoffs.
The Rebels rank above the themselves and
Highlanders only because their points difference is better by the smallest possible margin, 97 against 98.
The Melburnians have won three of the past four clashes, including the 3130 thriller last season, and the Highlanders have dropped three straight games to Australian opposition, their worst such run in nearly a decade.
It certainly looks like a topshelf Highlanders XV, the locking crisis notwithstanding.
So, it would be reasonable to hope Ethan de Groot can lead the tight five to some level of dominance, and that Harmon and loose forward buddies Hugh Renton and Sean Withy can show their relentlessness, and that soontodepart halfback great Aaron Smith and Freddie Burns can run the show.
Perhaps, above all, it is to be hoped star winger Jona Nareki can get some space to dazzle.
The Rebels, as Highlanders coach Clarke Dermody highlighted this week, are a little different from the other Australian teams.
They love to have a crack, and they have some skilled athletes, but their consistency and defence have been concerns.
Wingers Monty Ioane — his 112 carries this season are second across the competition — and Lachie Anderson can fly, and fullback Andrew Kellaway is a known menace, though the loss of star first five Carter Gordon is a blow.
Anderson told Australian media this week the Rebels were staying buoyant.
‘‘We’re playing a really great attacking style of rugby this year and we’re really enjoying that,’’
‘‘We’re not going back to the drawing board each week to try and figure out a new game plan on how to win games. We’re not that far off the mark.
‘‘We feel that everything’s in our control and we’re taking it one week at a time. We’re not talking about finals — we’re just looking to the Highlanders and we’re going there to win.’’