Rugby: Highlanders keen to take game to Bulls

This really is backs-to-the-wall stuff.

Shorn of three of their best players, coming off a scoreless performance and going up against the defending champion in its own back yard, where it hasn't lost for 13 matches - it is not going to be easy for the Highlanders in Pretoria tomorrow morning.

Add to the mix the fact the Bulls are coming off a week's rest and will be out for revenge after falling to the Highlanders heavily last year and one gets the picture this is a slightly more difficult assignment than a hop, skip and a jump.

Highlanders assistant coach Peter Russell said everyone in the side was aware it would not be an easy task but they knew what they needed to do and were focused on playing their own game.

"We need to make sure we get our game right. Last week we did not get a good set-piece and could not get our game flowing from that," Russell said.

"We gave away too many easy turnovers at the set-piece, and once you do that you end up having to defend for 10 to 15 phases. They scored two of their tries from turnovers."

Russell said the Bulls based their game around their inside backs and precise kicking.

But the Highlanders wanted to get the Bulls out of their comfort zone and not allow them to gain distance with their kicking game.

"The good thing is that every side suffers after the bye. They're probably thinking `we're well-rested, we're top of the table' and [are] expecting to win the game. But we've got to go out there and get enthused about our game and not let their big guys run with the ball.

"Target to play the game outside the two 22s, and build our phases from there."

Russell said the side also had to show strong discipline, especially against a team with as potent a goalkicker as Morne Steyn.

Prop Jamie Mackintosh gets his first opportunity to captain the Highlanders with regular skipper Jimmy Cowan out injured.

Cowan dislocated the little finger on his right hand in the 33-0 loss to the Stormers last weekend and returned to New Zealand this week. He will be missed, though nippy halfback Sean Romans is an able substitute.

Also absent from the Pretoria pitch will be suspended duo loose forward Adam Thomson and inside back Michael Hobbs.

They were not considered for this game after failing to comply with the team curfew after the Stormers game. Russell said the incident was very disappointing but the duo had accepted the punishment and had helped out at training on Thursday.

He said they did not miss the curfew by much.

"But it had been agreed, with senior players stating what time everyone had to be back. They were disappointed in themselves and very upset about it."

Highlanders winger Ben Smith said there was resolve in the side to make up for last week's performance.

He said the backs had been working on taking and returning the ball from high kicks.

Smith was part of the side that pummelled the Bulls 36-12 last year and said that win resulted from the side sticking to its game plan and taking the advantages of any Bulls weaknesses.

Those weaknesses, though, appear to be few and far between for the Bulls this season.

The South African team has looked imposing this year, and playing at altitude in the cauldron of Loftus Versfeld makes the task doubly difficult for the Highlanders.