Sharks to exploit Highlanders?
2006-03-17 22:09
Pretoria - Carisbrook in Dunedin is often called the house of Pain, but this weekend the Sharks are the ones who want to dispense the pain - in a similar fashion as two years ago when they beat the Highlanders there.
Dick Muir's team landed earlier this week for the second time in New Zealand's South Island, only this time it is after three successive defeats.
The Sharks are desperate to change this statistic. And if they ever had a chance to beat the Highlanders, it is on Saturday.
The home side are without their danger man, flyhalf Nick Evans. The All Black pivot has been ruled out for the next 14 weeks with a broken collarbone. The inexperienced and unknown Calum Brown has replaced Evans.
Brown to face his former team
Anton Oliver's team also only returned from three gruelling matches in South Africa on Tuesday. The Sharks will hope that the home team's energy levels is lower than what it should be.
Muir hopes his side will be hungry enough to win this game after the three losses that could have been victories.
"After the loss against the Brumbies (30-35) we came to the conclusion that the goddess of luck was against us and we have decided now to create our own luck."
And then there is the Tony Brown factor. The former All Black flyhalf has played a lot of his rugby in Dunedin and won't be scared of his former home ground.
Muir added that Brown wanted to show to his former colleagues that he still has what it takes. The Highlanders practically showed him the door when Evans arrived on the scene.
The teams are:
Highlanders: Ben Blair, Vilimoni Delasau, Neil Brew, Seilala Mapusua, Richard Kahui, Callum Bruce, Jimmy Cowan, Craig Newby, Tim Boys, Hale T Pole, James Ryan, Ton Donnelly, Carl Hayman, Anton Oliver (c), Clarke Dermody.
REPLACEMENTS: Jason Macdonald, Chris King, Felipo Levi, Adam Thompson, Chris Smylie, Ryan Bambry, Roy Kinikinilau.
Sharks: JP Pietersen, Odwa Ndungane, Adrian Jacobs, Andries Strauss, Henno Mentz, Tony Brown, Ruan Pienaar, AJ Venter, Jacques Botes, Warren Britz, Johann Muller, Johan Ackermann, BJ Botha, John Smit (c), Deon Carstens.
REPLACEMENTS: Bismarck du Plessis, Danie Saayman, Albert van den Berg, Daniel Farani, Craig Davidson, Waylon Murray, Brad Barritt/Gcobani Bobo.
Kick-off: 08:35 (SA time). TV: From 08:00 on M-Net and SS 1.