1. Ethan de Groot v 3. Tom Robertson
The unstoppable force versus the immovable object . . . or something like that. It has not yet been a smashing success of a season for de Groot, who needs to start really exerting his influence on games. He is back after a week off and will hopefully be fizzing for a big one. The Highlanders scrum, put under immense pressure in recent weeks, needs the popular Southlander to be right at his best.
It will not be easy, as the Force tight five is a solid unit. Robertson is a fascinating character. He is a qualified doctor with four degrees, and took a year off in 2024 to study at Oxford. He is also a damaging prop with 24 Wallabies caps and a century of Super Rugby appearances.
7. Veveni Lasaqa v 7. Carlo Tizzano
Two in-form opensides will throw everything at each other. As Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph memorably said, Lasaqa is not a particularly big man but he "plays big". He is a demon on and off the ball, and combines nicely with Sean Withy and TK Howden.
On the other side, meanwhile, Tizzano is just a freak. The Force flanker not only leads Super Rugby with 10 tries — three more than the next best — but tops the defensive charts with 108 tackles. That engine never stops.
9. Nathan Hastie v 9. Nic White
Apprentice v master. Hastie has been one of the stories of the Highlanders’ season. After a couple of years of being patient and dealing with injuries, the dynamic halfback has shot to the front of the halfback queue. He is instinctive, tough and quick, and his running game is helping ignite an exciting Landers backline.
Hastie has 26 pick-and-go carries this season, 10 more than any other player, and his 93m gained from such carries is the best mark in Super Rugby.
White has seen and done it all, and the 71-test Wallaby and former Brumbies halfback needs to be watched closely. His partnership with first five Ben Donaldson will be crucial for the Force.
13. Thomas Umaga-Jensen v 13. Sio Tomkinson
Do not get in the middle of these two — because you will get crunched. Umaga-Jensen has only just restarted his Highlanders’ career after a long injury layoff, so is perhaps not quite at his best yet. When he is firing, he offers damaging ball-running and defence that will nicely complement turnover king Timoci Tavatavanawai in the Highlanders midfield.
Tomkinson lines up against a handful of his former team-mates after playing 43 games for the Highlanders. He only knows one way to play, and the Force will be eager to see him shut down the visitors with his suffocating defence.
