My Super 15 2011 Preview set continues as I now turn my attentions to the Highlanders, after this preview there are only seven more to go…
This Season
The Highlanders were nothing more than a poor side in 2010, picking up only three wins out of thirteen matches, even the team below them in 13th place that being The Force claimed more victories than them. The side from New Zealand though has a new man in charge, that being 41 year old Jamie Joseph the former coach of New Zealand Maori. He has been able to attract the highly rated fly-half Colin Slade, as he joins the side from this season’s early favourites the Crusaders.
This could well turn out to be the wrong move for Slade, as he enters a side with young aspirations in many positions; however a half-back partnership with Jimmy Cowan could well be the lethal source to the Highlanders season. On paper though the New Zealand conference will be very tough for them, as you can count the other four sides as being better equipped than them at the moment.
Key Players
As mentioned above all eyes will be on new signing Colin Slade, the talented fly-half has been touted as an ideal replacement for Dan Carter in the New Zealand international fold, and at Highlanders the 23 year old will be given a chance to shine in his natural and favoured position, if things get tight and injuries occur at full-back, Slade will also step into that position. The fans will have to wait for Slade’s Super 15 debut for his new side though, as he has been ruled out for up to six weeks; however when Slade returns to full fitness he will surely take the league by storm this season.
Other players to look out for are Adam Thomson, Kendrick Lynn and winger Ben Smith, lock Tom Donnelly would have also been a key player for the Highlanders but the main man at second row has been ruled out until April. Even though Kendrick Lynn and Ben Smith are not the most well known players in the Highlanders side, they pose a real threat while on the attack. Lynn’s pace and good defence should help his side this season, while Ben Smith is highly rated as he is all set to step up to the plate, after Israel Dagg decided to head for the Crusaders.
Overall Thoughts
The Highlanders have been hit hard with injuries to their two key players, Donnelly was the key source at lock while Slade could have well been the signing of the Super 15 season, but he will now have to wait a few weeks to get his chance. The New Zealand conference is such a difficult division, plus the team from the region of Otago, have such a horrible start as they have to play both the Bulls and the Stormers away in South Africa early on. Taking everything into perspective the Highlanders could well finish bottom of the overall standings.