The Cheetahs are hoping to achieve a second victory on tour when they take on the Highlanders in a Super Rugby match between the so-called banana peel teams on Friday. Sport24
In recent seasons the Highlanders and Cheetahs have not been any more than teams that delivered the occasional upset, but the home side will be firm favourites in Dunedin.
The Cheetahs shocked the Waratahs 23-3 in their first match Down Under and want to finish the tour on a high. Both teams have beaten some big sides in the past and the Cheetahs are hoping that it will again be the favourites that are caught off-guard.
The Highlanders have surprised all and sundry by emerging as contenders this year. They have already beaten the Chiefs, Brumbies, Hurricanes and the defending champion Bulls. On top of that a victory at the House of Pain will be the visitors’ first one over the Highlanders since they have taken part in the tournament as a regional team.
The Highlanders won 17-12 in 2006, 31-28 in 2008 and 31-24 in Bloemfontein in 2010, while in 2007 they won 21-17 in Invercargill and 32-8 in Dunedin in 2008.
Highlanders hooker Jason Rutledge said that he and his team-mates had to ensure that they did not slip up. “The Cheetahs will fight for 80 minutes and they are a potential banana peel side,” Rutledge told AAP.
“They are a little like we were last year: outsiders with nothing to lose and they will throw everything at it.” Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské said that he couldn’t care about the manner in which his team gets the four points.
“Any team that beats the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld is good. They are a very physical team and have a good pack of forwards. Then there are dangerous players like scrumhalf Jimmy Cowan and wing Kade Poki in their backline,” said Drotské.
“We will have to defend well and put pressure on them in the set phases, which is the recipe we followed against the Waratahs.”