Highlanders semi hopes over, admits coach

Highlanders rugby coach Greg Cooper has acknowledged his side's Super 14 semifinal aspirations are over.

With three rounds to play, the Highlanders, eighth on 22 points, have a mathematical chance of reaching the top four if they collect maximum points from their remaining matches and other results are favourable.

With the second-placed Waratahs standing in their way at Carisbrook tomorrow, Cooper said they had already set their sights on prizes other than a semifinals berth to finish an injury-stricken season in style.

"There are a lot of things that have to work in our favour (to reach the semifinals)," Cooper said.

"We may go out there and get maximum points in three games if things fell our way but that doesn't necessarily mean we'll make a semifinal. We're not conceding the season, but being realistic.

"We got together on Sunday and had a good chat about what we want to get out of this season and there are a lot of things.

"If you don't make the top four, make the top six and there's also franchise pride."

With All Blacks coach Graham Henry naming a 39-man squad for the upcoming two-match Irish series and a one-off test in Argentina, Cooper said the lure of higher honours was another source of motivation.

Besides lock Tom Donnelly, Cooper highlighted the impressive efforts of his scavenging loose forwards in Josh Blackie and Craig Newby, while centre Neil Brew was one of the consistent players all season.

"If they continually play well as individuals, and also collectively, it will happen for them and the Highlanders," Cooper said.

That quartet were named in Cooper's team yesterday with just one change made from the side that lost to the Hurricanes on April 16, with Richard Kahui replacing Vilimoni Delasau on the left wing.

Both the Highlanders and Waratahs are coming off a bye and, even following the Sydneysiders' flogging of the Brumbies a fortnight ago, Cooper said his side had every chance to topple last year's finalists.

"Our goal is to do three things -- tactically get it right, execute those tactics and play with commitment.

"If we get those three things right then we can win games.

"The Waratahs are balanced right across the park so we have to be strong up front."

"We certainly back our players. If we were to win the front row battle that wouldn't be enough though. We'd have to do more than that."

The Waratahs were diverted to Christchurch airport yesterday with bad weather in Dunedin preventing them from landing but Cooper dismissed suggestions a damp Carisbrook track would hinder the visitors.

"They're probably one of the better all-round sides, they're quite strong up front, so if conditions are wet it shouldn't bother them too much."

Despite another season which looks destined to be consigned to the "could've-been" basket, Cooper was still upbeat.

After claiming four wins from their opening five matches, including three on the road in South Africa, their injury toll, which began pre-season with the loss of front-line players, deteriorated further when All Blacks Nick Evans and James Ryan were struck out.

"We set out to make the semis, and when we had a full roster of players things were going well and it was on track," Cooper said.

"But you can't control certain factors and a coach just have to try and get the best out of what we've got.

"Players who are starting to get some game time are beginning to develop, and hopefully for the future they can keep progressing."

- NZPA