They won’t have to worry about wind or rain, but the Waratahs know they risk being blown away if they don’t win the breakdown battle against the Highlanders in Dunedin on Saturday.
The Super Rugby clash under the roof at the Forsyth Barr Stadium brings together two of the competition’s early-season form sides.
The Highlanders are unbeaten after vanquishing domestic rivals the Chiefs and Crusaders, while the Waratahs were beaten at the death by Queensland and thumped Melbourne.
Much of the pre-match focus has centred on the Highlanders physicality at the breakdown and their renowned ability to win turnover ball.
Recalled back Berrick Barnes, who will line up at inside centre, made it clear NSW couldn’t hope to win unless they controlled the breakdown.
“They (the Highlanders) have been one of the best teams in the comp, probably the form team at the breakdown, and that’s what’s been the key cornerstone of their success,” Barnes said.
“So if we don’t front up there, we stand no chance, so that’s a key area for us.”
NSW coach Michael Foley pinpointed countering the abrasive Highlanders’ physicality as a key factor.
“If you don’t match them in that area, then anything else you plan to do won’t work,” Foley said.
With three playmakers in Barnes, skipper and five-eighth Daniel Halangahu and fullback Bernard Foley, NSW won’t lack creativity once they win possession.
For the Highlanders, All Blacks five-eighth Colin Slade will make his first start of the season coming in at fullback for Ben Smith, while Kade Poki steps in for Buxton Popoali’i on the right wing.
While the Highlanders pack have demanded attention and respect for their robust play, Barnes was also wary of their backline.
“They’ve got a lot of threats out there now, it’s something that that they probably didn’t have in the years gone by,” Barnes said.
The Waratahs aren’t complaining about playing under a roof after some wet and wild games at the Highlanders’ former Carisbrook home and the trying conditions in Invercargill in their last away game against the Highlanders in 2010.
“It was probably the worst conditions I’ve ever played rugby in, so it will be a nice change heading down to Dunedin and playing in what will be the best conditions we get all year,” Halangahu said.
Openside flanker Pat McCutcheon, who will make his first start of the season, is another player who will be more than happy not to worry about the weather.
“My debut (Super) game was in 2010 in Invercargill and the rain was coming down sideways, and it was four degrees,” McCutcheon said.
