Highlanders coach Tony Brown has made a few tweaks to the line-up for tomorrow’s bottom-of-the-table game against Moana Pasifika in Dunedin, but has otherwise stuck with the team which pushed the Crusaders in Christchurch last week.
There was no shame in the 14-17 loss.
The Highlanders showed some promising signs, but it was their sixth consecutive loss and has left the campaign teetering.
Moana Pasifika has had a win against the Hurricanes, but will be equally desperate to post a second to stay in touch.
Some rudimentary calculations — one step above a complete guess — suggest perhaps 30 points might be enough to slip into the top eight playoffs.
During the last five years of the old Super 12, the eighth-placed team averaged 2.35 points per match. That would set the bar even higher at 33 points.
The Highlanders have just three points from six games and have to do plenty of winning in their remaining eight round-robin games.
Assistant coach Clarke Dermody said the team had scratched out some calculations as well.
"We’ve got an idea of where we need to get to but we’ve just got to start playing well and executing," he said.
"We feel like we’ve turned a corner in the last couple of games, but aren’t still quite finishing tries off.
"Once that happens, and we start winning, then we can’t start worrying about where we are on the leaderboard.
"I know, starting this weekend, we’ve got to play well to beat Moana. They are a team that gives it everything.
"You’ve seen in the last couple of weeks how good they can be."
The Highlanders are close to full strength for the important match.
Prop Jermaine Ainsley and loose forward James Lentjes return to the starting line-up. Both were named in the squad for the match against the Crusaders but pulled out late due to illness.
All Black Ethan de Groot is back in the run-on side after starting from the bench last week.
Lock Manaaki Selby-Rickit also moves from the bench to a starting spot, while Tasman’s Max Hicks will provide locking cover and is on debut.
Hooker Rhys Marshall is on the bench again with regular starter Liam Coltman out this week while he makes a recovery from Covid.
Vilimoni Koroi’s versatility means he comes on to the bench to cover first five and fullback.
Sekope Kepu will captain Moana Pasifika and is joined in the front row by Ezekiel Lindenmuth and Luteru Tolai, who has been elevated from the bench.
Lock Samuel Slade gets the nod at lock, and a reshuffle in the loose sees Solomone Funaki move from openside to blindside, with Alamanda Motuga at No7 and Penitoa Finau getting an opportunity at No 8.
Halfback Ereatara Enari and the experienced Christian Leali’ifano will drive the game, while Timoci Tavatavanawai retains his spot on the left wing after an impressive debut last week.
Super Rugby Pacific
Dunedin, tomorrow, 7.05pm
Highlanders: Connor Garden-Bachop, Sam Gilbert, Fetuli Paea, Scott Gregory, Mosese Dawai, Mitch Hunt, Aaron Smith (c), Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, James Lentjes, Shannon Frizell, Josh Dickson, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Jermaine Ainsley, Andrew Makalio, Ethan de Groot. Reserves: Rhys Marshall, Ayden Johnstone, Saula Mau, Max Hicks, Gareth Evans, Folau Fakatava, Vilimoni Koroi, Denny Solomona.
Moana Pasifika: William Havili, Tima Fainga’anuku, Levi Aumua, Danny Toala, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Christian Leali'ifano, Ereatara Enari, Penitoa Finau, Alamanda Motuga, Solomone Funaki, Samuel Slade, Veikoso Poloniati, Sekope Kepu (c), Luteru Tolai, Ezekiel Lindenmuth. Reserves: Samiuela Moli, Abraham Pole, Chris Apoua, Mahonri Ngakuru, Sione Tu’ipulotu, Jonathan Taumateine, Lincoln McClutchie, Fine Inisi.
