Smith up for 'aerial bombardment'
The Sharks have telegraphed their tactics and the Highlanders are well prepared, according to returning All Black Ben Smith.
As the best team never to have won the title, the Sharks – four times runners-up (the last time in 2012) and having reached the play-offs another four times – are determined to end their Super Rugby drought.
But the Highlanders, the only team to have scored a four-try bonus point against them this season, stand squarely in their way when they go head-to-head in a preliminary qualifier in Durban on Saturday.
The Highlanders recorded a 34-18 win over the Sharks in their Round 18 encounter in Durban back in April.
Sharks boss Jake White spoke of 'copy and paste' when quizzed about his team's earlier this week, and Smith knows that means and aerial bombardment.
Smith, who was hospitalised after the Highlanders' 16-44 loss to the Waratahs in Sydney a fortnight ago, said it was "pretty frustrating" to watch from the sidelines, but he has recovered pretty well.
"I had a good training week this week," the 28-year-old All Black said in a teleconference call from Durban – where the Highlanders arrived on Thursday, after doing most of their build-up on the Highveld, in Johannesburg, in the wake of a marathon trip from Christchurch, via Auckland and SAydney.
"I am looking forward to the challenge we have ahead of us," Smith said of playing against the Sharks.
He said the Sharks' physicality is one of their obvious strengths.
"They like to get their big forward pack into the game," the Highlanders fullback said, adding: "That is something we'll have to shut down this weekend.
"They also have a backline that backs up their forwards pretty well.
"As long as we can get into our game and play our structures we'll be fine."
He admitted they are expecting the visitors' back three to get peppered with some kicking.
"We have watched the last few games and they've used their kickers to put a bit of pressure on through the high ball," Smith said from Durban.
"We expect that [to happen again] this weekend."
However, the Highlanders feel that if the Sharks are going to give them the ball they can use their counter-attacking ability to put the pressure back on the home defence.
"We'll take any opportunities that can come from that [kicking]," he said.
By Jan de Koning
