Mauger highlights defence concerns

Crusaders midfield back Aaron Mauger yesterday lauded the Highlanders defence while lamenting his own side's troubles in keeping out the try-scorers ahead of Saturday's South Island derby.

Despite the Highlanders leaking 41 points in Saturday's loss to the Waratahs, Mauger said the Crusaders were still wary of a defensive line-up, that up until last weekend had proved highly effective

The match at Carisbrook could derail the Highlanders' semifinal chances while the Crusaders could book a home semifinal.

Mauger considers the match a clash of two styles - the Crusaders' free-wheeling fanciness against the Highlanders' relatively one-dimensional approach that is heavily reliant on a normally watertight defence.

"People are getting pretty buzzed about it," the second five-eighths said yesterday. "It's usually a fairly close game and you find that both teams really lift for it.

"It's a huge chance for us to nail a home semifinal, and it's also a big game for the Highlanders to stay in the hunt."

While the Highlanders are hoping to bounce back from a thumping defeat by the Waratahs, the Crusaders are fresh from scoring 77 points against the Sharks.

Mauger, 24, conceded the Crusaders were unhappy at the amount of points they were leaking this season and aware their own opportunities might be infrequent against the Highlanders.

"Their defence has really been their strong point this season," he said.

"The Highlanders have been a fairly structured and clinical side and, apart from the Waratahs, teams have struggled to score against them.

"We've obviously let in more tries than we would like, and we're hoping to rectify that."

Mauger, settled at second five-eighths outside Daniel Carter, gave warm praise to his opposite number, the Highlanders' Seilala Mapusua.

"Seilala's really matured and he's having a great season.

"It looks like he's taken on a bit of a leadership role. He's a senior player now and he leads the backline really well."