We have the power

OPINION: The time has come for the Highlanders, writes Logan Savory in this week's Sav's Say.

The honeymoon is over and after a few dull years it is time for the Highlanders to deliver to the success-starved fans – in Dunedin at least.

Yesterday I got the opportunity to attend the Super 14 launch in Auckland where each of the five New Zealand teams were named.

There was a lot of buzz around about who had ended up where and what was traded to get him there.

Like most years when the Highlanders reveal their team there is hope they can deliver but a realistic mindset has existed that the firepower isn't there to create a threat.

That attitude needs to change.

The Highlanders have enough in their squad now to produce a top-half finish in the competition – anything else would have to be regarded a failure.

In the forwards named yesterday there are three past or present All Blacks in Jamie Mackintosh, Tom Donnelly and Adam Thomson.

Add to that Josh Bekhuis, who will one day be an All Black.

At halfback there is the country's premier halfback and on the wing Ben Smith is another All Black.

Alongside are Israel Dagg, Jayden Hayward and Robbie Robinson – all rising talents in New Zealand rugby.

The players are there, now something needs to happen this season.

Success is needed to get crowds back supporting rugby in Dunedin, it needs to happen for Glenn Moore's future and it certainly needs to happen to get rid of the tainted image the Highlanders have elsewhere in the country.

It was evident when mingling with the northern journos yesterday that the Highlanders are regarded as outcasts.

The marketing department can't fix this. Only a quality campaign from the players can once again have the rest of the country looking at the region with fondness.

» Logan Savory is a former Southland cricket representative who was named New Zealand junior sportswriter of the year at the 2007 TP McLean journalism awards. His main rounds are cricket and rugby.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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