Highlanders get chilly reception from Brumbies

The Highlanders have picked apart the good and the bad of the Hurricanes’ 12-10 loss to the Brumbies last Saturday as they prepare for their own crucial clash in Canberra.

The men from the south need to beat the Brumbies, preferably with a bonus point tonight, to boost their chances of making the Super Rugby Trans Tasman final, and coach Clarke Dermody said their approach would differ sharply from the Hurricanes’ plan.

‘‘You can get bonus points in the first half,’’ Dermody said. ‘‘It’s factoring into our game plan is that we don’t want to go and chase tries.

‘‘It’s a really hard place to win. I think that’s potentially where the Hurricanes came unstuck last week. They were turning down points, and denied.

‘‘That gives the Brumbies hope and then all of a sudden they’re wholly into that game. We’re pretty clear on how we want to play. Now it’s up to the boys.’’

With wet and wintry conditions likely in Canberra, the Highlanders aren’t about to reinvent the wheel tactically.

The Brumbies are revelling in the sub-zero temperatures of late and are hoping for more of the same. ‘‘If it’s cold for us, then it’s definitely colder for them,’’ skipper Allan Alaalatoa said yesterday. We’ve trained in these conditions during the week and we’re prepared for it. I hope it’s minus four tomorrow and raining.’’

The Highlanders have built their Super Rugby Trans Tasman campaign on a smart kicking game and defensive pressure, and they won’t deviate from that as they first and foremost try to win the game.

With Pari Pari Parkinson the leading Kiwi lock in terms of lineout wins in Super Rugby Trans Tasman, they’ll also try to force some lineouts deep in Brumbies territory as use that platform to score.

The importance of aggressive carries, low body height and respect for the offside line on defence has also been hammered home this week, particularly after watching the Hurricanes struggle to generate quick ball on defence.

However, Jason Holland’s side did one thing very well – negating the Brumbies’ vaunted mauling game by contesting successfully at lineout time – and Dermody acknowledged that the Highlanders would have to be strong in that area.

‘‘It’s obviously something we’ve talked about,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s been a strength of the Brumbies even since I was playing.

‘‘It’s part of their DNA. It’s an area that we’ve really grown in the last eight weeks in this team, taking real pride in the maul defence.

‘‘We feel everything is in place for that, and it’ll be up to the mindset of the players.’’

The Highlanders will also have to look after some key Brumbies individuals. Wreckingball flanker Rob Valetini is the man they look to for momentum, while Wallabies halfback Nic White is a menace around the ruck.