It seems certain the Highlanders’ commute to Dunedin for tomorrow night’s match against the Crusaders will be a one-way trip.
The Crusaders have already confirmed they will not be returning to the Super Rugby Pacific bubble in Queenstown.
The Blues and the Hurricanes are expected to leave the resort as well, and the Chiefs left the protective hub yesterday.
Moana Pasifika’s opening two games were postponed due to an outbreak of Covid-19 in the squad.
The team is determined not to miss round three but in this environment, who knows?
Highlanders coach Tony Brown was careful not to make a definitive statement yesterday.
"If we stay home [in Dunedin], we are still going to be in a bubble, so to speak," he said when asked for some clarity around whether the squad would return from its temporary base in Queenstown.
"We’ll still be making sure that we live by certain rules. We just don’t want to get all the players’ hopes up about going home and then it changes over the next couple of days.
"When we leave here on Friday to go down to the game, we’ll know if we are staying or not."
Given the rate at which Covid-19 in spreading throughout New Zealand, more players will test positive for Covid and further hurdles lie ahead. But Brown does not want to be drawn on any contingency plans.
He has made plans out wide, though.
He has mostly kept the faith in the side beaten 24-16 by the Chiefs in the opening round.
Connor Garden-Bachop returns from injury and will start at fullback.
He has not played since fracturing his wrist last year.
Sam Gilbert played in the No 15 jersey last week but moves to the right wing, which means Mosese Dawai drops out of the game-day squad.
Josh Timu retains his place on the left wing after a strong performance in his debut.
Powerful midfielder Thomas Umaga-Jensen gets the nod at second five at the expense of Scott Gregory.
Umaga-Jensen made a positive impact when he came on against the Chiefs.
The Highlanders are unchanged up front, although reserve hooker Andrew Makalio is unavailable due to a calf injury and loose forward Hugh Renton has been named on the bench.
Rhys Marshall replaces Makalio on the bench.
With the game being played under the roof at Forsyth Barr Stadium, the Highlanders have opted for a six-two split on the bench in favour of forwards.
They will be hoping to play the game at pace and with more continuity than they managed against the Chiefs.
Loose forward James Lentjes said the side made too many errors.
"Our discipline let us down a wee bit as well. We definitely had opportunities — we just didn’t execute and take points from them."
The Crusaders have made a couple of changes to the side that beat the Hurricanes 42-32.
Mitch Drummond and Sevu Reece replace Bryn Hall and George Bridge in the backline, while debutant loose forward Corey Kellow has been named on the bench.
Highlanders v Crusaders
The teams
Highlanders: Connor Garden-Bachop, Sam Gilbert, Fetuli Paea, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Josh Timu, Mitch Hunt, Aaron Smith (captain), Gareth Evans, James Lentjes, Shannon Frizell, Josh Dickson, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Jermaine Ainsley, Liam Coltman, Ethan de Groot. Reserves: Rhys Marshall, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Josh Hohneck, Bryn Evans, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Folau Fakatava, Marty Banks, Hugh Renton.
Crusaders: Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, Braydon Ennor, David Havili, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Fergus Burke, Mitch Drummond, Cullen Grace, Tom Christie, Pablo Matera, Scott Barrett (captain), Sam Whitelock, Oli Jager, Brodie McAlister, Joe Moody. Reserves: Shilo Klein, George Bower, Tamaiti Williams, Quinten Strange, Corey Kellow, Bryn Hall, Simon Hickey, George Bridge.
