It’s not wind, chills and rain this time but the Queensland Reds will still be tested by Super Rugby extremes against the winless Highlanders in Dunedin on Good Friday.
While the roofed Forsyth Barr Stadium is a welcome haven for a team which has never won in New Zealand’s deep south, the Reds have their work cut out adapting their game to the Highlanders’ run-and-gun strategy.
Queensland coaching boss Ewen McKenzie has highlighted the importance of quickly adjusting to the home side’s expansive attack after beating the kick-happy Bulls at Suncorp Stadium.
“It’s a complete opposite game plan going from the team that kicks the most in the competition to the team that kicks the least,” McKenzie told AAP. “They run a lot.
“In a six-day turnaround, it’s a hard thing to adapt to.
“It’s not as easy as people think – you have to front up going from one extreme to the other.”
The Highlanders sit at the bottom of the Super Rugby table but possess one of the most dangerous backlines in the competition with All Blacks Aaron Smith, Colin Slade, Ma’a Nonu, Hosea Gear and Ben Smith.
They’ve pushed the defending champion Chiefs twice already this season, have suffered for a lack of precision finishing and also boast pack stalwarts Brad Thorn, Tony Woodcock and fit-again skipper Andrew Hore, so the Reds are on guard.
“They won’t lack confidence in that sense so we have to make sure we get it right,” said McKenzie, who aims to use the home crowd against the Highlanders.
“The longer we can put pressure on them on the scoreboard, the pressure will hopefully manifest itself.
“You’ve got to not let them off the hook in terms of conceding easy points.”
Although Queensland’s attack has spluttered for the most part in their 4-2 start to 2013, their defence has been tight in conceding just six tries.
Winger Dom Shipperley will have the job on the damaging Gear, while centres Ben Tapuai and Anthony Faingaa need to stop Nonu flicking the switch on his form and getting the Highlanders on the front foot.
Faingaa will celebrate his 50-game milestone for the Reds, and remains one of McKenzie’s favourite players with his team-first attitude and reliability in his off-the-ball deeds.
While Quade Cooper scampered over untouched for last week’s match-winning try, it was the midfielder’s clutch cleanout which created a quick recycle for the time and space.
“People don’t tend to notice that,” McKenzie said. “It’s the subtle things he does but it’s all critical.”
The loss of Wallabies strike weapon Digby Ioane (knee) is a blow for Queensland but skipper James Horwill is free to wreak havoc for an hour and Will Genia can scheme the full 80 minutes.