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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Darwin" data-source="post: 411492" data-attributes="member: 24910">These are the sort of games I don't like, as I don't know who to support.  Obviously I want to support my Highlanders team, but part of me wants the Blues to win as I support all NZ teams, and a Blues win would secure them a home playoff match next weekend (while a loss would see them either knocked out of the playoffs, or have a match in Nelson/South Africa next week).Rene Ranger is a huge loss for the Blues, as he's been the main strike weapon for the Blues since Toeava has been out injured.  Lachie Munro fills in for Ranger, but I feel he is a liability on the wing - he is doesn't have any pace, and is a very weak tackler.  He does have some nice skills, but I don't think he is really a Super Rugby player (especially on the wing).  Likewise Mathewson (who is dropped to the bench) is also a loss; I understand he is on the bench as he hasn't been able to train all week after a head knock. Chris Smylie gets his first start of the season at halfback; like Mathewson he is a very dangerous runner, but his passing has never been very good, and he hasn't played much at all this season.  The Blues do welcome back Peter Saili, who was injured before kick-off last week.Tom Donnelly has been given one final chance to impress the AB's selectors (though I suspect his chances of making the AB's this year are very slim), with Bekhuis dropped down to the bench.  Kade Poki is out injured again, with Matt Saunders starting on the right wing.  I feel the Highlanders have missed a chance to give Telusa Veainu another chance at this level on the wing, as there is not much for the Highlanders to play for apart from some pride.  Also Veainu would have been up against Lachie Munro -who is hardly the most intimidating opponent - and the Highlanders could have used Veainu's pace to expose the Blues down Munro's wing.  Saunders will do a solid job on the wing (as he's had plenty of Super Rugby experience on the wing), but he is far more effective in the midfield. He has the power to cause Munro some troubles, but like Munro he lacks pace; it is probably a battle between to the two slowest wings in Super Rugby!I'm looking forward to watching Charlie Faumuina again, as he's been huge since coming back from injury.  I feel the Blues have a big advantage in the tight-five, and I'd expect they will dominate at scrum time.  The loose-forward battle should be interesting, but I feel the Blues have an edge here too.  Kaino v Thomson is an important matchup; the play very different styles, but are both very good at what they do.  Thomson really needs to show some of his early season form if the Highlanders are going to gain parity in the loose.  Luke Braid will want to continue his consistently impressive form that has seen him tipped as an AB's bolter by some people.The Highlanders may have a slight edge in the halves, though that will depend on how Stephen Brett plays.  Shaun Treeby will be doing a lot of running down the 10/12 channel for the Blues, as this has been a weakness for the Blues all year.  Rokocoko gets one his last chances to impressive the AB's selectors, and his matchup against Piutau should be interesting, as they are both similar players (high work-rate, powerful, though Rokocoko does have more pace... when he uses it).  Ben Smith gets his last chance to show what he's got as well; I'm expecting him to have a huge game, as he did last time the Highlanders played the Blues.Assuming the Blues play as well as they did last week (which was much better than had for a few weeks) I'd expect them to win relatively comfortably.  I'm picking them to take it by 10-15 points.</blockquote>

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