Rugby: Southland factor a plus for us, says Highlander

Jason Rutledge. Photo / Getty Images

Hooker Jason Rutledge believes the Southland factor will work to the Highlanders' advantage when they play the Waratahs in their Super 14 match in Invercargill tomorrow night.

Rutledge is one of a big Southland contingent who will play their only match of the campaign in Invercargill to kick off round 12.

It will be the first time the Southland players have played at home since they beat Taranaki a week before winning the Ranfurly Shield last year and Rutledge believes they will get a warm welcome from the locals.

"The Southland public had a lot of enjoyment out of the Stags last year and they've been starved of top-class rugby since," he said.

"The public is still well behind us and I'm sure we'll get good support."

Rutledge said the Highlanders' confidence had been boosted by their five tries against the Hurricanes at Carisbrook last weekend.

"It was something we would have loved to have had at the start of the season."

He said the Highlanders acknowledged the Waratahs' quality but were not intimidated by them.

"They started off really well and they might have gone off the boil a wee bit. They're a good side and they'll be tough to beat but who knows what will happen in Invercargill?

"The way we played last weekend we can really take it to them and shake them up a bit.

"We were a lot more confrontational last week and I'd assume we would be looking at the same sort of plan for the Waratahs.

"Our aim for the rest of the season has to be three wins. We've got to move up that ladder. It would be nice to have some good wins and maybe sneak ahead of the Chiefs."

Rutledge said it was frustrating to suffer yet another close loss last weekend.

"Maybe we got tied up a bit in the harem-scarem stuff against the Hurricanes and maybe we should have calmed it down a bit and taken the three points when we had the chance.

"It was frustrating. It still says on the points table we have had only two wins so far and that's not really good enough for a professional team."

But Rutledge, 32, in his first full season as the Highlanders' starting hooker, said he had been fairly satisfied with his own form.

"The big thing has been my lineout throwing and I've been pretty happy with that. It always seems to take a couple of games to get going but I think I've been slowly building during the season.

"I feel pretty much at home in the Super 14 now. I'm starting to feel as if I can add something at trainings as well.

"I'm comfortable talking to the more experienced guys and giving my opinion."

- NZPA