Highlanders vs Sharks preview:

The Sharks did not have the best game last weekend but they were able to get the win over the Bulls. The main reason I believe for them not having a great game was because of the rustiness. This week they won’t be as rusty and that is one place where they will be one up on the Highlanders. This is going to be the highlanders first game and they might be rusty. The highlanders in the past relied on a big forward pack to dominate the game and give front foot ball to their backline. That is where the Sharks will want to take them on in the forwards, both teams has exciting backlines and I believe the winner of this game will be the team who’s forwards dominate.

Key mach ups:

Josh Dickson vs Ruben van Heerden: These locks both have a huge part to play in the game. Both of them are very physical and the teams main enforcers if they do their job right their team will be winning the physical battle and be on the front foot.

Mitch Hunt vs Curwin Bosh: The Battle of the 10’s. Hunt moved in the of season and to Highlanders and Curwin finally got the number 10 jersey for an extended period. Hunt also has the experience of Josh Ioane the number 3 for the All Blacks on his outside. Curwin showed that he might not be the regular flyhalf but he brings another side to the game that not a lot of 10’s does. Both of them will want to control the game with ball in hand and on the boot.

Rob Thompson vs Lukhanyo Am: These two will battle it out on the edges of the field and they will be well up for the battle. Lukhanyo is one of the worlds best and he showed that in the World-Cup final. Rob will have to front up and show that he is a force to recon with.

Teams:

Highlanders:

Starting XV: 1 Ayden Johnstone, 2 Liam Coltman, 3 Siate Tokolahi, 4 Paripari Parkinson, 5 Josh Dickson, 6 Dillon Hunt, 7 James Lentjes, 8 Marino Mikaele Tu’u, 9 Aaron Smith, 10 Mitch Hunt, 11 Jona Nareki, 12 Josh Ioane, 13 Rob Thompson, 14 Tima Fainga’anuku, 15 Josh McKay.

Bench: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Dan Lienert-Brown, 18 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 19 Jesse Parete, 20 Shannon Frizell, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Michael Collins, 23 Teariki Ben-Nicholas.

Sharks:

Starting XV: 1 Ox Nche, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 3 Thomas du Toit, 4 ruben van Heerden, 5 Hyron Andrews, 6 james Venter, 7 Tyler Paul, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 9 Louis Schreuder, 10 Curwin Bosch, 11 Makazole mapimpi, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 14 Madosh Tambwe, 15 Aphelele Fassi.

Bench: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 John-Hubert Meyer, 19 Le Roux Roets, 20 Henco Venter, 21 Sanele Nohamba, 22 Boeta Chaimberlain, 23 Jeremy Ward.

My Prediction:

I Believe it is going to be a close game and I am really having difficulty picking a winner. I am going to back the Sharks by less than 5 just because it is the Highlanders’s first game and they might be a bit rusty.