Rugby: Naholo as coveted as win over Cheetahs

Waisake Naholo of the Highlanders. Photo / Getty Images

A win-win scenario is filling the Highlanders spreadsheet this week.

Victory against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein will keep them in the top six and offset their last match stumble against the Lions as the race for the playoffs moves into its final phase. They are also looking for success off the field as negotiations move to another level to try to free wing Waisake Naholo from his two-year deal with Clermont.

The 24-year-old signed up before this Super season began but his impressive form throughout the Highlanders' campaign appears to have ignited the interest of the national selectors.

Clermont's sports director Jean-Marc Lhermet indicates the New Zealand Rugby Union wants the club to release Naholo from his contract.

"His performances in Super Rugby are remarkable and we are under an increasing amount of pressure from the [NZRU] and, when the All Blacks machine gets going, it becomes complicated," he said.

Naholo played for Wanganui, Taranaki and was then signed by the Blues in 2013 but struggled and was offloaded to the Highlanders.

Along with their other wing Patrick Osborne, Naholo has been one of the star points in the Highlanders this season where his speed and evasion put him at the top of the table with most tries (eight).

The Highlanders are up against an awkward opponent, the Cheetahs, on Sunday, again at altitude, as the squeeze goes on all the top sides in the race to the playoffs.

The Cheetahs have won four games this year but they play an enterprising style which can unhinge anyone, as the Stormers discovered earlier this month.

They have lost their usual halves Sarel Pretorius and Joe Pietersen to injury but retiring coach Naka Drotske is confident their replacements will be up to the challenge.

Tian Meyer and Francois Brummer will start along with new loosehead prop Danie Mienie in the only alterations from the side which beat the Stormers a fortnight ago.

The Highlanders need to tighten their set-piece for another robust exam after the way they struggled to hold their rivals last week. Cheetahs captain Francois Uys mentioned the lineout and drive work as a compelling piece of their armoury.

Drotske has targeted his side's backline defence as a key cog if his side is to have more substance than nuisance value.