Highlanders an inspiration for the Blues

Shaun Treeby stretches the Blues' defence and will attempt to do the same against the Chiefs. Photo / Getty Images

How about those Highlanders?

Only two years ago this team languished in 14th place on the Super Rugby ladder when the final whistle blew on the season.

This year, the Highlanders will host a playoff fixture against the Chiefs in Dunedin next Saturday night at Forsyth Barr Stadium after they finished the season in fourth place and they might just be the second-best team in the competition behind the high-flying Hurricanes.

Their transformation could serve as inspiration for the Blues.

Granted, they may have been playing a depleted Blues outfit in Auckland on Friday night but the way the Highlanders dismantled them was impressive.

There's an outside chance that we could see the Highlanders and the Hurricanes in the Super Rugby final on July 4 depending on how results fall in the next two weeks.

Such a match-up could be damaging for the All Blacks - given it would rule out some fringe internationals from a potential trip to Apia to meet Samoa on July 8 - although they will have players from the Crusaders.

If a New Zealand team make the final, their players won't be eligible for the match against Samoa.

Highlanders Lima Sopoaga and Waisake Naholo must be in the minds of the All Blacks selectors, while Hurricanes outside back Nehe Milner-Skudder has produced an eye-catching campaign this year.

Jamie Joseph has done a remarkable job turning the Highlanders around and it would be fantastic to see a big crowd on hand at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday for a match that has the potential to be a blockbuster.

Despite losing to the Hurricanes during the weekend, the Chiefs will be a different animal in the finals; they're a battle-hardened playoff team. But it's great for the game in this country to see the Highlanders hosting matches at this stage of the season.

On another note, I'd like to mention how valuable it is to have Grant Fox working as a selector for the All Blacks.

I was having a chat with Foxy at the New Plymouth airport during the weekend and he has a great mind for the game. He is meticulous and passionate about his job and can see so much in terms of talent; he was the same way as a player.

During our conversation he spoke about the current selection dilemmas and also noted that building for the future was one of the crucial balancing acts involved with helping the All Blacks improve.

With his eye for detail, and the work he does with the current coaching group, we can be rest assured our future All Blacks will be found. Foxy is in the job for another couple of years but I can't see why he couldn't be there for many more to come.