Preview: Highlanders v Sharks

VENUE & TIME: Carisbrook, Dunedin, Saturday March 20, 19.35 NZT.

HEAD TO HEAD: Played 14 – Highlanders 6, Natal/Sharks 8.

LAST TIME: April 28, 2009 (Durban) – Sharks 23-15 Highlanders.

LAST TIME AT VENUE: April 28, 2008 – Highlanders 17-19 Sharks.

MATCH ODDS:Luxbet: Highlanders $2.05, Sharks $1.77.

WALKING WOUNDED: The Highlanders will no doubt be pleased to have Jimmy Cowan back after his dislocated finger has healed, while Adam Thomson and Michael Hobbs are available for selection again after their one-week stand-downs for infractions of team rules. The Highlanders are showing a lot of changes for this game, with the coaching staff clearly unhappy with results so far.

FORM:

PAST FIVE Highlanders:

Round 1: Lost to Crusaders 17-32

Round 2: Lost to Blues 15-19

Round 3: Beat Cheetahs 31-24

Round 4: Lost to Stormers 0-33

Round 5: Lost to Bulls 35-50

PAST FIVE Sharks:

Round 1: Lost to Chiefs 18-19

Round 2: Lost to Cheetahs 20-25

Round 3: Lost to Crusaders 6-35

Round 4: Lost to Waratahs 21-25

Round 5: Lost to Brumbies 22-24

Fans will be wondering how their favourites have fallen to 11th (Highlanders) and 12th on the table but the answers are fairly simple. For the Highlanders it's the old combination of a moderate attack (only three teams have scored fewer points), moderate goal-kicking and leaky defence allied to a tough opening month that has seen the side beaten four times, the last two convincing defeats by South African contenders. Although the Highlanders posted 35 points at Pretoria they were always chasing the game and found, as have three other sides before them, that a score in the 30s is not enough against the Bulls this year. The Sharks were in most pre-season top four discussions but are the competition flops so far with five straight defeats. The fact four have been by seven or fewer points only adds to the pain, as the Durbanites could be and probably should be somewhere near the four. As it happens their season is probably done in the first month. The worst factors are the inability to score tries (a competition-low four in five matches) and regular indiscipline which has seen the Sharks get five cards and concede 18 penalty goals.

WHO'S HOT: Israel Dagg had an outstanding match on attack at Pretoria, scoring three tries with a combination of speed and ability to read the game, as well as adding a couple of goals. The forwards have done it tough in South Africa and need to step up here, with particular heat going on the front row. If Jamie Mackintosh and Clint Newland get it right they could continue to undermine the Sharks confidence in their scrum and lay what may be a very important foundation for the home side. That scrum has been a constant worry for the Sharks and its much-vaunted all-Springbok front row a major disappointment. Johann Muller and Steven Sykes are a good pair of locks while Andy Goode, after getting yellow cards in his first two matches, finally looked as if he might be worth his handsome salary with a perfect night off the tee in Canberra.

WE THINK: This is a toughie to call – the opening odds showed the TAB couldn't split them – but we think the Sharks have a couple of advantages that might prove vital. They're settled in Australasia now and the Highlanders have made the long trip home this week, while we also see them as a better team man-on-man, and so will call a first win for the Sharks but only by 5-10 points and we don't expect many tries.

TEAMS:

Highlanders: 1.Jamie Mackintosh, 2.Jason Rutledge, 3.Clint Newland, 4.Josh Bekhuis, 5.Hayden Triggs, 6.John Hardie, 7.Alando Soakai, 8.Adam Thomson, 9.Jimmy Cowan (captain), 10.Robbie Robinson, 11. James Paterson, 12. Michael Hobbs, 13.Kendrick Lynn, 14.Ben Smith, 15.Israel Dagg.

Reserves: 16.Jason MacDonald, 17.Chris King, 18.Joe Tuineau, 19.Tim Boys or Steven Setephano, 20.Sean Romans, 21.Jayden Hayward, 22. Fetu'u Vainikolo.

Sharks: 1.Tendai Mtawarira, 2.Bismarck du Plessis, 3.Jannie du Plessis, 4.Steven Sykes, 5.Johann Muller, 6.Keegan Daniel, 7.Jean Deysel, 8.Ryan Kankowski, 9.Ruan Pienaar, 10.Andy Goode, 11.JP Pietersen, 12.Riaan Swanepoel, 13.Adrian Jacobs, 14.Stefan Terblanche, 15.Patrick Lambie.

Reserves: 16.Craig Burden, 17.John Smit, 18.Alistair Hargreaves, 19.Willem Alberts, 20.Jacques Botes, 21.Rory Kockott, 22.Waylon Murray.

REFEREE: Jonathon White