Super 14 Preview - Highlanders

They’re a funny lot down south. Despite having the smallest catchment area of the five NZ franchises, their stated policy is to have an entirely home-grown squad and are absolutely rejoicing that they’ve only dipped into the draft twice – down from six in the previous two years.

While there may be a danger of under-rating them (as they have been for the past couple of seasons); this year they really did need help with most of the 2006 backline elsewhere and a couple of AB front-rowers on the conditioning programme. While the pack is useful and Nick Evans hopefully will be around for the whole season this time around, what they do with the ball is what I’ll be watching for in their early games.

Despite getting the 7 home 6 away split, they yet again get to play 4 of their first 5 games on the road, including the easier SAF trip of the Force, Lions and Sharks. Definitely winnable games, but no banker material (as the Chiefs found out to their cost last year). They’ll need to get out of the blocks early, as the run-in at the end is horrendous – Chiefs, Crusaders, Waratahs, Hurricanes and Brumbies.

I’m not entirely confident writing them off and certainly aren’t as bad as the 30/1 on offer at the TAB suggests. But my gut feel is they’ve lost too many starting players from last year and the replacements aren’t up to Super 14 standard (yet). Time will tell, and a team to watch closely in the first few rounds.

Prediction: 4-9 and bottom three.

Player to watch – Vili Waqaseaduadua. Of Fijian descent from the Auckland catchment area, and a wing. ‘Nuff said.