Bulls v Highlanders
Pretoria, 4.05am tomorrow
The Highlanders go into tomorrow's Super 14 rugby match against the Bulls at Pretoria as the underdogs by a huge margin.
Backing popular opinion, the TAB figures the southerners are worth $8 for the win compared to the Bulls' $1.05.
As well, the Bulls have not lost their last 13 matches at their Loftus Versfeld stronghold and the Highlanders have had a disrupted buildup this week, having lost combative skipper Jimmy Cowan to injury.
They will also be without flanker Adam Thomson and first five-eighths Michael Hobbs, who have been suspended for a late night out after last weekend's loss 33-0 loss to the Stormers.
Steven Setephano comes in for Thomson and Matt Berquist replaces an in-form Hobbs. But assistant coach Peter Russell feels that morale in the team has recovered well after the poor start to the week.
"It was pretty tough at the start of the week, lots of whispers going round [about Hobbs and Thomson] but at the end of the day, team protocols were broken.
"We have moved on from there and now the starting 22 have been named, they are raring to go.
"We had a pretty good training session today and everyone's come away pretty pleased with the outcomes and how we want to play the Bulls."
They had allowed the Stormers to come at them, had lost any momentum they created and were on the defensive all day.
Being forced to play catch-up rugby last week was disappointing, Russell said, and the team's priorities this week had been to put things right.
Russell felt the Highlanders would lose little with Berquist running the backline instead of Hobbs.
With Berquist at the helm, the Highlanders memorably beat the Bulls 36-12 at Palmerston North last year.
Berquist starred with his tactical kicking and scored a total of 14 points from a try, a penalty and three conversions. "Matt's a seasoned campaigner and I don't think we will lose too much in terms of direction around the paddock," Russell said.
How the Highlanders made use of territory tomorrow was going to be the key and Russell indicated Berquist would be asked to pin the Bulls down in their half of the field as he did last year with some accurate tactical kicking.
John Smit has been switched back to tighthead prop to face the Brumbies for his 50th Super rugby game as Sharks captain.
Smit was once again moved across the front row from hooker to prop by coach John Plumtree for the Sharks' match tonight.
Fellow South Africa front-rowers Bismarck du Plessis and Tendai Mtawarira were also recalled to the starting lineup, with their team looking for its first win of the 2010 competition.
Flanker Keegan Daniel and winger Odwa Ndungane have been passed fit.
Daniel has been moved to the bench, with Jacques Botes starting at No 6 as part of the Sharks' rotation policy.
BULLS v HIGHLANDERS
Bulls
Zane Kirchner
G. van den Heever
Stephan Dippenaar
Wynand Olivier
Francois Hougaard
Morne Steyn
Fourie du Preez
G. Steenkamp
Gary Botha
Werner Kruger
Danie Rossouw
Victor Matfield (c)
Derick Kuun
Dewald Potgieter
Pierre Spies
Reserves: Bandise Maku, Rossouw de Klerk, Flip van der Merwe, Deon Stegmann, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Jaco van der Westhuyzen, Pedrie Wannenburg.
Highlanders
Israel Dagg
Ben Smith
Kenny Lynn
Jason Shoemark
Fetu'u Vainikolo
Mat Berquist
Sean Romans
Steven Setephano
Alando Soakai
Tim Boys
Tom Donnelly
Josh Bekhuis
Chris King
Jason Macdonald
J. Mackintosh (c)
Reserves: Jason Rutledge, Bronson Murray, Hayden Triggs, Josh Hardie, Scott Cowan, Robbie Robinson.
- NZPA, AP
