The Highlanders will face the Sharks in Saturday’s Super Rugby playoff in Durban with a significantly stronger line-up than the one that lost to the Waratahs and the Crusaders in the last two games in the league phase.
Ben Smith returns to fullback after missing last week’s game in Christchurch. The Sharks have acknowledged that Smith’s presence will make a significant difference to the Highlanders.
Against the Crusaders, when Smith was absent, the Highlanders hardly launched one of their trademark counter-attacks during the game. Smith will test the Sharks if their kicking game is not accurate, and that is something that the home team has been working hard at this week.
Smith’s return is not the only boost for the Highlanders, as Lima Sopoaga is back at starting flyhalf in place of Hayden Parker. There have also been two changes in the forwards, with Ged Robinson back at hooker and Jarrad Hoeata at lock.
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph has tried to play down the significance of the win scored by the Highlanders over the Sharks in the match played in Durban earlier in the season.
“That game is done and dusted and we start from scratch this week, and anyway I reckon we caught the Sharks off-guard when we played them here last time and we know they will be ready for us this time,” said Joseph.
