Richie & James going down

[Strathen]

It's a shame, as I kinda like them both, but their hearts are going to be ripped from their chests this weekend as the Highlanders turn on a master class in front of the terraces to bring the bums back to the seats... errr... standing area.

This weekend is the start of the climb. There are bound to be a couple of hiccups along the way, but they'll be in the form of a couple of easy tries to the opposition. Come round 13, people will be reminiscing about his time when they looked down and out sitting in 11th place. The commentators will lament on how the Crusaders looked to be the only team with an eye on the semi's spots. But the Highlanders have come of age, and so too, saving the coaches job (unfortunately).

It's a shame the Sharks have to be the first to taste the 7 try romp as the Highlanders, led by Dagg's second hat-trick of tries in a row, walk to victory. The Speights will be flowing down south, and up north, as is proper.

I feel sorry for Gil and Penny who have already picked the Sharks to win and cannot change this. The rest of you have fair warning though. Easy point on the offering here.

[Penny]

  Life awfully rosy for you there in your dream world ...

You are going to have trouble getting past those Hurricanes - their South African based melt down is only temporary, this week will see them rising to heights never seen before - and then coming home to smash through all the remaining teams.  You see...

[Strathen]

Saturday, 24th of April Pennz. Mark it in your calendar.  You're coming round to mine to watch the Canes get whipped at the brook on my massive screen/wall thing. Bring whatever it is you drink when you're feeling down. I'll keep it chilled until the 80th minute. Or, if you'll concede by the 60th, I'll let you start before the final hooter.

Speaking of hooters... Gotta go to the pub.

[Mary]

Oh yes, Saturday at the Poulton house will not be fun  .
Of course I will be a very gracious winner   

[Penny]

Strathie - Consider it a date!  I will be there - with my Hurricanes flag AND a spare for you - you will need it, you will be a total Canes convert by the end. 

[Penny]

Mary - sounds like fun times in your household this weekend!

[Strathen]

Oh yes, Saturday at the Poulton house will not be fun  .
Of course I will be a very gracious winner   

Go easy on him Mary. Some people fool themselves in to thinking they can beat the Highlanders, only to have further to fall.

Perhaps a little side bet between the 2 of you for the house chores for the week? 

[Strathen]

Strathie - Consider it a date!  I will be there - with my Hurricanes flag AND a spare for you - you will need it, you will be a total Canes convert by the end.  

I'll prep the bonfire for the burning of Hurricane paraphernalia.

[Penny]

Oh yes, Saturday at the Poulton house will not be fun  .
Of course I will be a very gracious winner   

Go easy on him Mary. Some people fool themselves in to thinking they can beat the Highlanders, only to have further to fall.

Perhaps a little side bet between the 2 of you for the house chores for the week? 

I am sure they can think of something better than household chores to bet with

[Penny]

Strathie - Consider it a date!  I will be there - with my Hurricanes flag AND a spare for you - you will need it, you will be a total Canes convert by the end. 

I'll prep the bonfire for the burning of Hurricane paraphernalia.

  you think I'm joking about the flags   I very carefully brought them all the way back from Wellington with me just specifically for this outing ...

[Mary]

Better than house chores??? Cold hard cash sounds much better!! :-)

[Strathen]

Highlanders bank on 'The Kid' at first-five
By NATHAN BURDON - The Southland Times 
Robbie "The Kid" Robinson will be treating his Super 14 starting debut against the Sharks at Carisbrook tomorrow night like any other game.

The 20-year-old has been named in the No10 jersey for the struggling Highlanders as they chase a first win at home this season.

Robinson has already seen action this season off the bench, including the quarter of an hour he got against the Bulls in Pretoria last week, but will be in the run-on team for the first time.

"I've been trying and trying and finally get a chance," he told The Southland Times.Robinson said those 15 minutes against the Bulls, including a try, were important in terms of his season.

"I would have liked more (game time), (but) like I said to myself at the start of the season – I knew it was going to be hard for me to get an opportunity but (any) oppportunity I did get I was going to have to make the most of it."

Coach Glenn Moore hopes Robinson will provide the Highlanders with an extra attacking edge. "His confidence has gone up. We thought last week he had a real impact when he came on.

"He does offer us a point of difference and the Sharks have had a pretty good defence. He provides us with something different to what we've shown."

Moore will be advising his young charge to keep calm during his run-on debut.

"It's about playing with the same confidence he's shown coming off the bench and the same confidence he's shown through the Air New Zealand Cup in pressured situations. The good thing is he's got some experienced guys around him."

Michael Hobbs and Adam Thomson return to the starting lineup after having to sit out the Bulls game because they broke team curfew in Cape Town.

Thomson has been re-installed at No8, while Hobbs has been moved to his preferred position at second five-eighth to accommodate Robinson.

Among the nine changes made by Moore, captain Jimmy Cowan returns to the team after missing a week with a dislocated finger, Jason Rutledge and Clint Newland replace Jason Macdonald and Chris King, respectively, in the front row and Hayden Triggs comes in at lock for Tom Donnelly, who has an ankle injury.

Donnelly could have played against the Sharks tomorrow, but would be better for a week off, Moore said.

Southland wing James Paterson, who has been impressive off the bench, regains the left wing spot he lost to Fetu'u Vainikolo in South Africa.

Tim Boys has been bracketed with Stephen Setephano on the bench, where Joe Tuineau has been named for the first time.
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Robinson's parents are likely to be in the stands, but his extended family have a "do" planned for down home this weekend.

"I don't know what's going to go on there. They might have to put a big screen up."

With the Highlanders arriving in Dunedin only on Tuesday there have been limited opportunities for Robinson to build a combination with Cowan and Hobbs.

Robinson is keen to also take on the goalkicking duties if first-choice kicker Israel Dagg, who is being troubled by a knee injury, can't do it.

In other injury news, Nasi Manu will be out for at least one more week with a knee injury.

HIGHLANDERS

Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Kenny Lynn, Michael Hobbs, James Paterson, Robbie Robinson, Jimmy Cowan (captain), Adam Thomson, Alando Soakai, John Hardie, Hayden Triggs, Josh Bekhuis, Clint Newland, Jason Rutledge, Jamie Mackintosh. Reserves: Jason Macdonald, Chris King, Joe Tuineau, Tim Boys/Steven Setephano, Sean Romans, Jayden Hayward, Fetu'u Vainikolo.

[Strathen]

I'm thinking the Highlanders really need to change their approach. We need to play a more mobile game. Constantly spin the ball, and use our fit, fast, forwards to run rings around the opposition.

No longer do we have a forward pack that shunts to opposition around. But we still seem to play as if we have a tight 5 with Haymen, Meuws, Oliver, and Mailing at their prime.

Look at that backline! It's freakin amazing! The talent, speed, and line breaking ability from 9 to 15 is of the likes we've not seen since we had Brown, Alatini, Stanley, Ellis, Rico Gear, and Wilson in 2000. Not since the golden years of Highlander rugby (98-00) have we had such an attacking and speedy force in the backline.

I feel we need to change our game plan. Perhaps we need to drop Soakai for Boys for extra mobility. Just a thought.

[Mary]

Penny, my daughter and my throats are rather tender this morning..The Hurricanes were so close to winning, just a damn penalty kick!!!  Gave all the faithful Loftus supporters a fright I can tell you!!!!

[Strathen]

Well, that was embarrassing. As a Highlanders supporter, I'm pretty disappointed. The boys looked like a bunch of strangers out there tonight. The team we have is better than what we're showing up with, week in, week out.

[Penny]

I caught the last 20 mins, and the bulls just pretty much held onto the ball for the last 10 mins or so.  never a chance.  But I did admire the bulls for doing that.

Strathen, The only way your plan will work is if you also teach them to hold onto the ball.  I didn't see tonights game sorry, the the few I have seen this year, the highlanders were doing some good stuff, but would loose it forward or turn it over very easily.

[Mary]

Strath, surely we can look forward to a win this weekend, against the Lions...........please!!!!!!!!

[Strathen]

Mary - my confidence has taken a bit of a knock. First time in years. I'm still backing the boys, we will win by 15.

Penny - If the boys held on to the ball it would be fantastic! We would be averaging 50 points per game. But alas it appears droppsies is the way forward for the southern men.