Super Rugby Pacific: Highlanders v Chiefs. Where: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin. When: 7.05pm, Friday, May 5. Coverage: Live on Sky Sport 1, live updates on Stuff from 6.45pm.
Clarke Dermody is hoping that a feisty Highlanders training session on Wednesday is a good sign before the clash against the Chiefs on Friday, but the southerners’ hopes are largely riding on a change at No 10.
Freddie Burns has been handed the reins, with Mitch Hunt paying the price for some costly errors against the Force and Waratahs, and Dermody urged the Englishman to seize his chance at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
“Freddie is obviously coming back from injury, and he hasn’t actually played that much for us because of that,” Dermody said.
“But these are the games we got him over for. He’s hugely experienced, he can control a game, and hopefully he can unlock our backline.
“The good players look forward to these games. I know he’s looking forward to playing with Aaron [Smith]. It’ll be the first time he’s played with him.”
Burns, 32, has not started a game at No 10 since the round-two loss against the Crusaders, with injuries limiting his contribution to the Highlanders so far.
However, Hunt’s form has opened the door and Dermody signalled that the No 10 jersey was there for the taking with a strong performance against Damian McKenzie and co.
“No one likes not starting when you’re accustomed to that role,” Dermody said of Hunt. “But I guess the challenge is we’ve got selection pressure now we’ve got our injuries back.
“So, it’s up to the guys that get the opportunity to nail the performance.”
Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Pari Pari Parkinson and Jonah Lowe also felt the cold steel of the selectors’ axe after underwhelming performances in Australia, with the Highlanders coaches’ patience clearly tested by what they saw over the past few weeks.
The trio all failed to even make the 23-man squad, with Dermody impressed by the energy that Scott Gregory brought last week.
“He just gave us work rate,” Dermody said. “He chased kicks, contested in the air, worked back on counterattack.
“That’s the stuff that we need. We need guys working hard on the field.
“The Chiefs kick the most out of any team, and they kick the furthest out of any team, which is funny because everyone says that we kick too much.
“They’re actually the highest kicking team and they’re really smart how they do it, so we need guys to be able to get back and look after the ball.”
James Allan/Getty Images
Highlanders utility Scott Gregory will mark the in-form Chiefs winger Emoni Narawa.
Jona Nareki is again selected on the bench following an understandably rusty return against the Waratahs last Friday, while Martin Bogado didn’t make it through training on Wednesday as he continues to recover from the nasty quad injury he sustained against the Fijian Drua.
Dermody wasn’t underplaying the size of the task against the Chiefs, noting the Highlanders would almost have to be perfect to knock over Clayton McMillan’s multifaceted side.
“The stats showed that the Crusaders probably should have won that game [against the Chiefs], but if you give the game drivers of the Chiefs – the McKenzies and Stevensons and Brad Webers – one or two opportunities they’re pretty good at taking it.
“So, it’s been our focus this week, making sure it’s an 80-minutes performance, making sure our defence is on point, and giving the reins to Freddie to unlock our attack.”
Highlanders: Sam Gilbert, Connor Garden-Bachop, Fetuli Paea, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Scott Gregory, Freddie Burns, Aaron Smith, Hugh Renton, Billy Harmon (capt), Shannon Frizell, Will Tucker, Fabian Holland, Jermaine Ainsley, Andrew Makalio, Ethan de Groot. Reserves: Rhys Marshall, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Saula Ma’u, Josh Dickson, Sean Withy, Folau Fakatava, Mitch Hunt, Jona Nareki.
