Photo: PhotoSport / Derek Morrison
The Highlanders are entering must win territory this weekend after suffering a stark reality check against the Force in Perth.
Sitting seventh on the ladder, the men from the deep south will need to bounce back from the 30-17 loss when they take on the tenth placed Waratahs in Sydney on Friday night.
The side will be buoyed by the return of skipper Aaron Smith as well as his understudy Folau Fakatava and the electric Jona Nareki.
The All Black and Super Rugby centurion said he is feeling refreshed after three weeks on the sidelines, though it was tough to watch his side go down to the Hurricanes and Force.
“The Western Force game, we probably let ourselves down a little bit. But the energy and the practice this week has been really exciting.”
Smith said the team has performed only in patches.
“We need that desire to stay in a game for eighty, and do it for each other. We’ve had a lot thrown at us this year, on and off the field but we’re still in the fight and by no means written off.”
He said the side want to put out a performance they and their fans can be proud of.
“Then we can head back to dunnas with our heads held high and go into an exciting four or five weeks.”
The Highlanders have an incredibly tough run home with games against the Blues, Chiefs and Brumbies, and coach Clarke Dermody said they are targeting the Waratahs as a crucial victory.
“I think the reality is if you’re going to target a New Zealand team at the moment, it’s probably us the way we’ve played this year. So there’s always going to be a target on us. We didn’t get it right against the Force. But the challenge is now to get it right for the Waratahs.”
Discipline was a huge factor in Perth with the visitors losing three players to the bin, an area Dermody concedes the Highlanders must improve significantly on in Sydney.
“Obviously, the team was disappointed in Perth. We didn’t play anywhere near the level that we expect. So naturally is a bit more edge around this game. We need to make sure we prepare for a team that is waiting, who have openly said that they’ve rested Wallabies to be ready to beat us, so it’s a good challenge.”
Smith said there is still plenty of belief a second Super Rugby title is possible for the battling franchise.
“We know that as a group, we still have plenty of games left. We are till in playoff contention and that’s what we’ve got to chase now. This is our reality and we need to as players stand up. There’s no pressure on us. It’s all on them. They’ve already said that they have chosen this game to win and no one thinks we can so that’s how we look at.”
The match kicks off at 9.30pm NZ time following the Hurricanes versus Brumbies in Wellington.
Highlanders team to face Waratahs
1. Ethan de Groot
2. Andrew Makalio
3. Jermaine Ainsley
4. Fabian Holland
5. Will Tucker
6. Shannon Frizell
7. Sean Withy
8. Hugh Renton
9. Aaron Smith (C)
10. Mitch Hunt
11. Scott Gregory
12. Sam Gilbert
13. Fetuli Paea
14. Jonah Lowe
15. Connor Garden-Bachop
Reserves: 16. Rhys Marshall 17. Daniel Lienert-Brown 18. Saula Ma’u 19. Pari Pari Parkinson 20. Marino Mikaele-Tu’u 21. Folau Fakatava 22. Thomas Umaga-Jensen 23. Jona Nareki
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