Rugby: Highlanders set to run Lions off their feet

Malakai Fekitoa during the Highlanders' captain's run at Forsyth Barr Stadium ahead of their clash against the British and Irish Lions in Dunedin tomorrow. Photo / Brett Phibbs.

The Highlanders tomorrow want to take the British and Irish Lions players to places they haven't yet been to on this tour.

After three tour matches affected by wet conditions, the Highlanders will extend an invitation to the visitors to join them in a lung-searing, high-tempo match in perfect conditions that will probably make players from both teams uncomfortable in terms of aerobic and mental capacity, and at the end of it all, the team that copes best will emerge the victors.

These are the plans laid by coaches Mark Hammett and Scott McLeod in head coach Tony Brown's absence in Japan where he is assisting Jamie Joseph with the national team.

But it's not just a case of throwing the ball wide at every opportunity. That's not the high-tempo match the Highlanders are looking for. It's in the detail, too, of the way they carry the ball, defend, and make sure they don't linger on the hard, unforgiving, pitch a second longer than they have to.

"Every team, and certainly us more than most, wants to play with tempo," former All Blacks hooker Hammett said. "And in reverse, on defence, everyone wants to slow things down.

"We've got to get the detail of our carry and our clean really accurate so we can achieve that. That comes with the little things like getting up quicker than your opponent, and being more aggressive.

"That's all in the planning and that's all we've been working hard on all week. It's who does that best will end up getting the quickest ball, and whether that's playing with intensity or to play a kicking game or pressure game."

The Highlanders kick more than any other Super Rugby team in order to force mistakes either from a mis-kick return or a turnover at the ensuing breakdown. The Lions know that and will have prepared for it.

But the Lions have played on wet and slippery grounds in Whangarei, Auckland, and Christchurch thus far. At AMI Stadium they got the perfect conditions for their defence-oriented kicking game, and there were also many injury breaks where they could recover aerobically while slowing the Crusaders' flow.

If the Highlanders have their way, this match under the roof will be quick from start to finish and they have already reinforced the need to stamp their mark early.

Otago greats David Latta, John Leslie, Tony Gilbert and Tom Donnelly spoke to the team this week about the need to take opportunities when they arise.

"A lot of it was very similar - don't miss your chance," Hammett said. "These games go super quick and you don't want to get to halftime and think 'Jeez, we haven't fired a shot'.

"The style we play is generally like that anyway. We hope to continue that."

Skipper and loose forward Luke Whitelock said of the messages: "Just enjoy the occasion. It will go past pretty fast. You've got a chance to do something special which not everyone can be involved in. Don't die wondering because you'll only have one crack."

So now the Highlanders, after their gut-wrenching defeat to the Crusaders in Christchurch just over a week ago, have the opportunity to do something Scott Robertson's men couldn't.

"It took a while, but we were pretty proud and pretty happy with a big part of that game against the Crusaders," Hammett said of the 23-20 defeat sealed by Mitch Hunt's late dropped goal. "That probably made it more gutting."

Highlanders:

1. Daniel Lienert-Brown, 2. Liam Coltman, 3. Siate Tokolahi, 4. Alex Ainley, 5. Jackson Hemopo, 6. Gareth Evans, 7. Dillon Hunt, 8. Luke Whitelock (C), 9. Kayne Hammington, 10. Lima Sopoaga, 11. Tevita Li, 12. Teihorangi Walden, 13. Malakai Fekitoa, 14. Waisake Naholo, 15. Richard Buckman

Reserves

16. Greg Pleasants-Tate, 17. Aki Seiuli, 18. Siosuia Halanukonuka, 19. Josh Dickson, 20. Jimmy Lentjes, 21. Josh Renton, 22. Marty Banks, 23. Patrick Osborne

British & Irish Lions

15. Jared Payne, 14. Jack Nowell, 13. Jonathan Joseph, 12. Robbie Henshaw, 11. Tommy Seymour, 10. Dan Biggar, 9. Rhys Webb, 8. CJ Stander, 7. Sam Warburton (C), 6. James Haskell, 5. Iain Henderson, 4. Courtney Lawes, 3. Kyle Sinckler, 2. Rory Best, 1. Joe Marler

Reserves

16. Ken Owens, 17. Jack McGrath, 18. Dan Cole, 19. Alun Wyn Jones, 20. Justin Tipuric, 21. Greig Laidlaw, 22. Owen Farrell, 23. Elliot Daly