Highlanders co-captain tunes up for virtuoso final performance

Nasi Manu will lead the Highlanders pack against the Hurricanes. Photo / Getty Images

When Highlanders co-captain Nasi Manu wants to relax he strums his ukulele. His choice of song will vary but he might roll out something from the Lion King movie.

The tune might be Hakuna Matata, the Swahili melody which translates to "no problems", or Don't Worry, be Happy, or the team song they belted out in Sydney's eastern suburbs after thumping the Waratahs.

It was the night the Nobodies sat the Highflyers on their considerable backsides, when the pickup pack assaulted an all-international set of forwards and sustained their improbable drive towards Super Rugby glory. The bond among the Highlanders sang through our television screens without Manu's musical garnish. Their spirit was magnificent and they ground the dispirited Waratahs out of the semifinal.

After sweating it out in gyms, on the training fields or rugby arenas, the Highlanders value their leisure - surfing, hunting, fishing and other activities which stimulate team character.

Manu is a spiritual totem for the Highlanders and with Ben Smith has led the unheralded group to Saturday night's Super Rugby decider with the Hurricanes. Once that is done, Manu's off to Edinburgh on a two-year deal.

For another week he will drive the players' search for an historic title, which on the evidence of the Highlanders' roster this season, looked to be a pipedream. They had brilliant backs but none of the pack suggested test class.

The All Black panel concurred in their recent selection of an expanded squad, however, they will point to the solidarity and work ethic of the Highlanders' forwards as a necessary foundation in their side.

Look at the men from 1 to 8 who started the semifinal victory against the Waratahs, none of them born in the area but all have acquired the southern man mentality.

Liam Coltman, James Lentjes and Elliot Dixon have moved to play ITM Cup rugby in the region for Otago or Southland, while the rest are imports or discards, all primed for gallant service against the Hurricanes.

Loosehead prop Brendon Edmonds made his Super Rugby debut for the Canes, so did lock Mark Reddish and reserve hooker Ash Dixon and while all three fell off the pecking order there, they have absorbed the Highlanders' spirit.

Manu could not get a regular gig with the Crusaders, Josh Hohneck did not fit the mix with the Chiefs and 33-year-old lock Alex Ainley was pulled out of Tasman to bolster the side's locking numbers.

He returned to the Makos in 2013 after three seasons playing in Japan and when Tasman pushed through to the ITM premiership final last year, the big-hearted lock got the Super Rugby call-up he coveted. When he asked his boss for extended leave from his contracting job, his boss said he'd fire him if he didn't take the offer from the Highlanders.

Ainley's debut stalled when he broke his jaw in a club game.

When he recovered others were well ahead of him before they fell over.

Suddenly, the father of three who has his 34th birthday next month was the side's premier lock and in the midst of all the playoffs action.

His beak has taken some hits in the past few matches but last Saturday night in Sydney he powered through 71 minutes until he was subbed with the victory assured.

Like his buddies, he's ready to go again in the final, this time against an All Black-heavy Hurricanes pack.