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It's getting to the pointy end of the Super Rugby season and, while the Force have long since been out of finals contention, there has been a fair bit to smile about over the last week. Last weekend's clash with the Hurricanes didn't provide the joy of a third away win for the season, but it did unearth two gems in halves pairing James Stannard and Mark Swanepoel. It was probably one of the best coaching decisions that Richard Graham has made this season. Graham has backed that one up with a second quality decision of not rushing in the 'big name' walking wounded of James O'Connor, Willie Ripia and Brett Sheehan. The backs finally put in the type of performance the Force fans could be happy with and hopefully that will see those incumbents left behind in Perth under pressure to return to the starting squad.
The Highlanders come into this weekend's game with a loss to the Lions that could prove to be a blessing or a curse for the Force. The Lions have put out a blue-print for defeating the Highlanders, which no doubt the Force's superior squad could emulate. However, the South Islanders have had all week to plug the gaps that were exposed last weekend. They also will be coming into the game with more motivation; their finals hopes having taken a blow with the loss to the Lions and a further loss to the Force would kiss them goodbye altogether.
This weekend's game, along with the Lions in Jo'Burg, would no doubt have been pencilled in for 4 or 5 points in the pre-season, and my how things have changed. The Highlanders are on the brink of the top six, struggling to get in, while the Force are languishing towards the bottom end of the ladder. Yet for all the difference in ladder position, history definitely favours the Force with the Highlanders being the only side the Force have a positive win/loss record against. We Westerners have enjoyed victories in the last three games with the Highlanders, including two away wins in Queenstown. The two matches the 'Landers did win, in 2006 and 2007, were very tight affairs with 3 and 1 points margins respectively. Trivia tidbit: The Force have never finished a game against the Highlanders, Lions or Rebels without a least one competition point.
The Teams
Richard Graham has made only one change to the Force side to take on the Highlanders. Nick Cummins has moved to the bench for Alfie Mafi. The former gets a chance for a much deserved rest, particularly for his ear, while Mafi gets another chance to step up and show what he can do with his rocket boots. The Highlanders have also made minimal changes; John Hardie replaces Alando Soakai in the backrow, Soakai takes Matt Saunders' place on the bench, and All Black lock Tom Donnelly takes the place of Hardie on the bench. With a 5-2 split on the bench, Jamie Joseph has clearly signalled that he will continue on with the pick and drive style that the Highlanders found so effective earlier on in the season.
There will be some interesting clashes across the park in this game. The key strength of the Highlanders has long been their scrum, and the trio of Jamie Mackintosh, Mahroni Schwalger and Chris King are no slouches. Mackintosh tips the scales at almost 130kgs making him one of the heaviest loose heads in Super Rugby. The Force front row has held it's own particularly well this season but this will be a true test for Longbottom, Charles and Fairbrother. The Hurricanes scrum may boast more All Blacks caps but it is not the grizzly, gnarled threesome that front up for the Highlanders.
Behind their battle-harden front row is something of a weak spot in the Highlanders side. Jarrad Hoeata and Josh Bekhuis are essentially backrowers; highly mobile and fantastic ball runners but not the most talented in the line-outs. There will be an opportunity here for Nathan Sharpe, who was untouchable on the Force's throw last weekend, to exert some serious pressure. This is especially so since Adam Thomson is the only recognized jumper in the 'Landers backrow. No doubt that the ever-reliable Tom Donnelly will take the field if the Highlanders start losing this battle, however the Force using an early territorial kicking game would definitely be prudent.
What the Highlanders miss out on in their pack in height, they definitely make up for in explosive ball-runners. Their back five are among the competition's best with Adam Thomson and Nasi Manu at the fore. Our defence will need to be on top form to prevent them from getting the kind of momentum with their drives and one out hit ups that saw them topple the reigning champion Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.
Pretty hard to judge the battle of the halves. This is just the second time we will have seen Stannard at 10 and Swanepoel at 9. The Highlander's fly-half, Lima Sopoaga, is also in his first season of Super rugby. The only constant is Jimmy Cowan who masterfully, if supremely annoyingly, leads his team around the park. Fingers crossed he had a big night out on the sauce after the Lions loss and hasn't fully recovered. Or hopefully someone has stolen his pot of gold.
The battle of the back three will also be an intriguing one. Will it rain as it so often does in Dunedin? Will we/they kick? Will we/they run? Ben Smith is one of the best counter-attackers in the business as he is a very slippery eel in the tackle. Alongside him, Kade Poki also has pace to burn and the pair will be dangerous from wayward kicks. Yet neither, nor 11. Siale Piutau, is a brilliant kicker and there may be opportunities here for Cameron Shepherd's thumping boot to pin the Highlanders in their own territory.
The Prediction
The Highlanders have never played a dominant game against us. However, they have shown that they are a quality side in 2011 and that Jamie Joseph, despite being a douche bag, is an astute coach. This could be the closest, on the field if not the scoreboard, game between the two sides. The battle over the breakdown will be immense. If our forwards can put in effective tackles and slow down the Highlander's ball at the breakdown, we can stop them from building up any steam and take away that point of attack. It will all come down to our defence in the first 10 minutes and last 10 minutes- but then, doesn't it always? I have confidence here. We have the goods to win this one and our history in Otago has been great. Force by 3.
Team Line-ups
Western Force: 15 Cameron Shepherd, 14 Alfie Mafi, 13 Patrick Dellit, 12 Rory Sidey, 11 David Smith, 10 James Stannard, 9 Mark Swanepoel, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 David Pocock, 6 Matt Hodgson, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Sam Wykes, 3 Tim Fairbrother, 2 Nathan Charles, 1 Kieran Longbottom Reserves: 16 Ben Whittaker, 17 Matt Dunning, 18 Tom Hockings, 19 Richard Brown, 20 Chris Cottee, 21 Mitch Inman, 22 Nick Cummins.
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Kade Poki, 13 Kendrick Lynn, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Siale Piutau, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 John Hardie, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Josh Bekhuis, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Chris King, 2 Mo Schwwalger, 1 Jamie Mackintosh Reserves: 16 Jason Rutledge, 17 Bronson Murray, 18 Tom Donnelly, 19 Nick Crosswell, 20 Aaron Smith, 21 Robbie Robinson, 22 Alando Soakai.
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Was the wait worth it - Ya betta baby 
