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Robbie Robertson - Source: Photosport -
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Times they are a changing down south. 2010 will be the last season the Highlanders will call Carisbook home: a last chance to give the dwindling House of Pain faithful something to cheer about before the franchise moves to their brand spanking new stadium.
It might just turn out to be an appropriate farewell for the Brook too because the perennial New Zealand strugglers of Super rugby are quietly confident that something special is brewing down south this season.
While they haven't made the playoffs since 2002, the Super 14's southernmost franchise has retained the core of their squad for three seasons now and with experience together comes expectation that they can finally make some noise.
Indeed the time for excuses it over as far coach Glen Moore is concerned and he told tvnz.co.nz that they are confident they can improve on their 11th place finish of 2009.
"We have made a lot progress over the past two seasons and my expectation is that we will do a hell of lot better than last season," Moore says.
A huge fillet for his franchise came at the backend of 2009 when they retained the services of All Black halfback Jimmy Cowan and Southland captain Jamie Mackintosh.
Rumours of the Highlanders two key leaders drifting to Auckland to play for the Blues would have spelt disaster to a team that is deficient of any true star power and Moore knows that their loyalty was essential
"The retention of them was crucial, Moore affirmed. "They're our
captain and vice captain. Jimmy is our most capped player and it
was very important."
Imperative
Imperative too is that Cowan keeps his cool. The ultra competitive halfback isn't everyone's cup of tea as a captain and last year he showed in his inexplicable meltdown against the Blues, which resulted in him getting an early shower at Eden Park, that he can be a liability.
Moore however wouldn't have anyone else leading his side and says that they now have checks in place to prevent a repeat.
"He is definitely a very passionate and competitive character and I wouldn't want to change that about him.
"It's about how he deals with it in the critical moments when the pressure is on and the referees are involved.
"It's an area though that he has identified that he really wants to work on we discuss it and put systems in place and I think he has responded well."
Cowan though can now also rely on a host of proven performers at this level. All Blacks Adam Thomson, Ben Smith and Tom Donnelley are complemented by hardened campaigners such as Mackintosh, Jason Shoemark, Matt Berquist and Jason Rutledge.
Chuck into the mix two of the countries most exciting talents in Robbie Robinson and Israel Dagg and the Highlanders have all the ingredients to be a dangerous proposition to any other franchise.
Indeed the Highlanders now believe that they have the chemistry to break free from the old 10-man game that has for so long been the hallmark of their rugby.
"In the past we have probably just been known for trying to outmuscle other forward packs but over the past two years we have really work hard on improving the overall skills from one-fifteen," Moore says.
The Highlanders will need all those skills and more in an imposing start to their campaign. They're away to the Crusaders this Saturday before hosting the Blues and then embarking on a three-match road trip to South Africa that has make-or-break written all over it and Moore knows it too.
"It's fairly close competition so it's really important that we get off to a good start.
"Anyone can beat anyone on any given day and you only to look at how many points covered from 4th to 12th last year.
"It wasn't a lot so we're certainly focussed on getting ourselves into those playoffs this time round"
Highlanders squad
Jamie Mackintosh, Clint Newland, Chris King, Bronson Murray (D),
Jason Macdonald, Jason Rutledge, Josh Bekhuis, Tom Donnelly, Hayden
Triggs, Joe Tuineau, Adam Thomson, Alando Soakai, John Hardie, Tim
Boys, Nasi Manu, Stephen Setephano, Jimmy Cowan, Sean Romans, Matt
Berquist (D), Michael Hobbs, Jayden Hayward, Jason Shoemark (D),
Kendrick Lynn, James Paterson, Fetu'u Vainikolo, Ben Smith, Robbie
Robinson, Israel Dagg.
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