Alando Soakai. Photo / Getty Images
It will be a particularly poignant occasion for flanker Alando Soakai when the Highlanders play their farewell Super 15 rugby match at Carisbrook against the Western Force tomorrow night.
Soakai, who has played 55 games for the Highlanders and 68 for Otago, will leave New Zealand after the Super 15
to take up a two-year contract with Japanese club Kubota.
"There are a lot of memories of Carisbrook for me," the 28-year-old said.
He made his Otago debut at the ground against the Lions in 2005 and captained the province for the past two seasons.
"There have been a lot of ups and downs but I'll take away a lot of good memories of the place," he said.
"But, first things first, I want to do my bit and it would be great to say goodbye to Carisbrook with a win."
Soakai, who will start tomorrow's match on the bench, has played in 12 of the 13 games this season and was gutted by the last-minute 26-22 loss to the Johannesburg-based Lions last Saturday.
"It was one of those games where we felt we had a bit of control. We parked a lot in their 22 but we couldn't get the points we needed.
"There was a lot of physicality in the breakdown area that tested us, and we paid for not taking our opportunities. The Lions played the full 80 minutes and we made far too many mistakes. They put a lot of pressure on us and we didn't respond well."
Soakai said the match against the Force was clearly in the must-win category and, having watched the Perth-based franchise take the Hurricanes to the wire last week before losing 34-28, said they would present formidable opposition.
"They offer something different to the Lions," Soakai said. "They like to play with a bit of width. They've got some very good players and they'll test us and our fitness."
Soakai's replacement in the starting lineup, John Hardie, is expected to mark Wallaby flanker David Pocock.
Flanker Adam Thomson, who has been sidelined with a rib injury, returns to play his 50th match for the franchise and lock Tom Donnelly is on the bench after overcoming a back complaint.
- NZPA
