Highlanders Raise The Altitude

Sydney Morning Herald

Saturday March 1, 2008

Rupert Guinness in Dunedin

THE Waratahs believe the Highlanders have signalled their intent to try to derail the NSW lineout in tonight's Super 14 game by naming second-rower Hayden Triggs as their starting blindside breakaway.

There has been much attention on the beef and brawn of the new-look, 367-kilogram Highlanders front row. But the Waratahs are as wary of the tall timber now in the Otago side for the match at Carisbrook with Triggs (201cm) and second-rowers Tom Donnelly (200cm) and Isaac Ross (199cm).

"We obviously pride ourselves on our lineout, and they obviously have three tall guys in their team this week," said Waratahs second-rower Dan Vickerman. "That puts a little emphasis on our lineout to make it work and execute it correctly on the night."

Adding height to NSW's lineout will be Will Caldwell (198cm), who had been rotated into NSW's starting XV to partner Vickerman (204cm) in the second row before the Highlanders named their side.

Dean Mumm (196cm), who started last week in the NSW second row, has been moved back to the bench, but Rocky Elsom (197cm) remained in his customary position as the starting blindside breakaway.

The Waratahs lineout gives up one centimetre in height when comparing the starting teams, and 36cm when the bench is factored in. When asked how that might handicap NSW, Vickerman said height in a team's jumpers and lifters was an advantage only "if you do the drill well and back yourself and execute it well".

Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie is expecting the Highlanders to try to upset NSW's lineout. "They have got an extra second-rower on the side of the scrum for the extra height, so I would expect they will try to disrupt our rhythm at lineout time, in particular," said McKenzie, pointing out that adding height "might compromise on their mobility". NSW may well employ the quick lineout to catch the big Highlanders men out.

McKenzie is wary of the potency of ball-runners such as Ross, loose-head prop Jamie Mackintosh and No.8 Steven Setephano in the forwards and the back line as the Highlanders, in their first home game of the season, seek to break their run of two losses. Nonetheless, he expects a tight game from the hosts, considering yesterday's cold, windy and wet conditions are forecast for Dunedin today.

"It's hard to read really, the way they've been playing the game, they've been playing a pretty dynamic sort of game. But the winning of the game will start up front," McKenzie said.

The Highlanders, says McKenzie, will also miss their first-choice playmaker in five-eighth Daniel Bowden due to a suspension from last week's game against the Brumbies.

"I don't think it is going to help them. He did an outstanding job against the Brumbies," McKenzie said. "He made some very good attacking forays. Losing a 10, there is a possibility of losing combinations."

In light of today's forecast at Carisbrook - aka "The House of Pain" - the Waratahs were grateful they had trained in the rain on Thursday in Sydney.

Smiling yesterday was Matt Dunning, who will start at tight-head for the first time with NSW - and the second time in his career after two starts as No.3 for the Wallabies - to replace Al Baxter (concussion).

"It's wet and windy, usual New Zealand weather. There will be a lot of mauling, a lot of scrummaging," Dunning said. "It's something Otago are well know for, and something we are trying to get better at."

Dunning said he was delighted over the game's timing during University Orientation week at Dunedin. "It's great playing at Dunedin, especially in Uni time because they get a massive crowd," he said.

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

Back to News Index | Back to Home