Carisbrook match one to watch

BY NATHAN BURDON

Two teams with plenty of issues will face off at Carisbrook tonight when the Highlanders take on the Sharks in round six of the Super 14.

It goes without saying – or else we say it so often that it has started to lose meaning – that the Highlanders need the win.

One ballsy victory over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein and a bonus point against the Bulls last week was their lot from a tough three-week tour of Africa.

Now they've returned home, spent the past week overcoming jetlag and will take on the Sharks with a team featuring nine changes from the side that was thumped 50-35 by the Bulls last start.

A win over the Sharks would be timely for the Highlanders.

Without wanting to look too far ahead, they take on the Lions at home next weekend and then the Chiefs, who are looking a little vulnerable, the following week.

The Highlanders would probably be willing to give up duckshooting for a year in exchange for a winning run like that.

The Sharks, meanwhile, have been camped in Queenstown since a close loss to the Brumbies in Canberrra last weekend.

The glamour African team is still looking for a first win this season, something which has seen rumours of discontent within the squad begin to circulate.

Sharks coach John Plumtree was at pains to deny any discord on the franchise's website this week: "I can categorically state that ours is not an unhappy team. Yes, confidence can take a knock when you are losing and we're no different to any other team. What is irritating me is all the reports of the team being unhappy, all generated as sensational talk by some aspects of the media." Plumtree was backed up by Sharks captain John Smit.

"I can tell you that if there was a rift in the camp, we wouldn't be competitive. That makes it even more ridiculous. I've been on tours where things weren't right within the team, when guys jump ship. We lost by 40 or 50 points."

The 35-6 loss to the Crusaders aside, the Sharks have lost their other four games this season by an average of three points.

If you are a Sharks fan, that's even more heart-wrenching than the Highlanders' recent record.

So, two teams who are used to losing games they could win and badly need this one to get their season going will square off.

Add in a rookie first five in the form of Southland's Robbie Robinson at the helm for the Highlanders and this one could well be worth a watch.

THE TEAMS

HIGHLANDERS: Israel Dagg, Ben Smith, Kenny Lynn, Michael Hobbs, James Paterson, Robbie Robinson, Jimmy Cowan (captain), Adam Thomson, Alando Soakai, John Hardie, Hayden Triggs, Josh Bekhuis, Clint Newland, Jason Rutledge, Jamie Mackintosh. Reserves: Jason Macdonald, Chris King, Joe Tuineau, Tim Boys/Steven Setephano, Sean Romans, Jayden Hayward, Fetu'u Vainikolo.

SHARKS: Patrick Lambie, Stefan Terblanche, Adrian Jacobs, Riaan Swanepoel, JP Pietersen, Andy Goode, Ruan Pienaar, Ryan Kankowski, Jean Deysel, Keegan Daniel, Johann Muller (captain), Steven Sykes, Jannie du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira. Reserves: Craig Burden, John Smit, Alistair Hargreaves, Willem Alberts, Jacques Botes, Rory Kockott, Waylon Murray.

- © Fairfax NZ News