Rugby: Rutledge sounds Cheetahs warning

Josh Bekhuis. Photo / Getty Images

Hooker Jason Rutledge has warned the Highlanders face a dangerous opponent when they play the Cheetahs in their Super 15 match at Carisbrook on Friday night.

"They'll fight for 80 minutes and they're potentially a banana skin team," Rutledge said.

The Bloemfontein-based Cheetahs have won just one of seven games so far but they have been extremely competitive.

They collected losing bonus points in three of their four matches in South Africa and have proved tough opposition on tour, upsetting the Waratahs 23-3 and losing 22-29 to the Blues last weekend.

"They're maybe a bit like we were last year when we were the underdogs, had nothing to lose and would throw everything at it,'' Rutledge said.

"We beat them last year in a close game over there so we hope that's a good omen.

"We want to speed the game up and play with width but we need to realise that there's a high chance it's not going to be a flash night on Friday.

"We don't want to be feeding rubbish ball across the backline. We want to get a decent platform and attack from there.

"The Cheetahs have got a good pack so we want to suck them in and then let the backs have a go."

Rutledge, 33, fresh from scoring two tries in the 26-20 win over the Brumbies in Invercargill last week, said the game was crucial in the context of the Highlanders' season.

"It's vital. We really need to bank four or five points and it could be the making or breaking of our season."

The Highlanders have had four wins and two losses this season and it will be one of the rare occasions in recent times that they have started as favourites.

Rutledge said the Highlanders were pleased with the outcome against the Brumbies but added there were plenty of faults to be rectified.

"We probably made ourselves work a lot harder than we needed to," he said.

"Our territory game wasn't that flash. We should have played territory a bit better. We were guilty at times of firing the ball across the backline when we needed to settle it and get a good platform.

"They had a lot of possession and territory but we felt we had the upper hand on them. We won all our lineouts and we had good ball from scrums so we were pleased with that improvement."

Rutledge, a veteran of 108 games for Southland and 33 for the Highlanders, said there was a good feeling within the squad.

"There is and it shows in the way we've won close games. There's a really good environment."

Asked to evaluate his own game, Rutledge said: "I probably started a little slowly but I'm starting to find my feet and I'm hopefully looking for another big game this week."

All Black lock Tom Donnelly has lost his place to Josh Bekhuis in the only change to the starting lineup from that which played last week.

There are two changes in the reserves. Robbie Robinson replaces Tony Brown in the backs and prop David Te Moana comes in for Henry Aulika.

Colin Slade has been passed fit to play despite leaving the field with a groin problem last week. Flanker Alando Soakai will play his 50thy game for the Highlanders on Friday night.

Highlanders team:
1 Jamie Mackintosh (C), 2 Jason Rutledge, 3 Chris King, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 5 Josh Bekhuis, 6 Adam Thomson, 7 Alando Soakai, 8 Nasi Manu, 9 Jimmy Cowan, 10 Colin Slade, 11 Siale Piutau, 12 Shaun Treeby, 13 Kendrick Lynn, 14 Kade Poki, 15 Ben Smith.

Reserves: Mo Schwalger, David Te Moana, Tom Donnelly, Nick Crosswell, Aaron Smith, Robbie Robinson, James Paterson.