Dare to dream . . . or accept reality

Otago Daily Times

13-05-2025

A rousing charge to the playoffs? Or an ignominious slide to a first wooden spoon since 1997? Both are in play for the Highlanders over the remaining three weeks of the Super Rugby season. Hayden Meikle considers both paths. Yes they can
Let us start with the obvious.
If the Highlanders are to sneak into the top six, they are going to have to play an awful lot better than they have over the past couple of months.
They are going to need a dozen of their players to discover career-best form along with generous helpings of luck.
They are going to need to beat the Hurricanes in Wellington (they haven't done that since the 2015 final), beat the Crusaders in Christchurch (they have managed that once in the past nine attempts) AND beat the Chiefs in Dunedin (they have lost six straight to the Chiefs).
There is always hope. So, here is a best-case scenario for a battling Highlanders team in the final stages of the season. Round 14
We start with the Highlanders beating the Hurricanes in Wellington.
Stranger things have happened. Will not be a huge winning margin, obviously, so we give the Highlanders four points and the Canes one.
In other games, the Crusaders will beat the Waratahs narrowly in Sydney, the Drua will pip the Force in Lautoka, the Blues will beat Moana Pasifika at Albany, and the Brumbies will beat the Reds in Canberra.
Running tally: Brumbies 43, Chiefs 41, Crusaders 41, Reds 32, Blues 31, Hurricanes 27, Moana Pasifika 24, Waratahs 23, Force 23, Highlanders 22, Drua 19. Round 15
A darkness hovers over the 2025 Super Rugby campaign.
The Crusaders are good again. Perhaps only the Chiefs stand between the rest of us and the horrible vision of the title going back to Christchurch.
Somehow, whatever it takes, the Highlanders need to play their part to withstand the forces of evil.
Pray for a big Timoci Tavatavanawai turnover, a sizzling break from a fit-again Caleb Tangitau, and a late Highlanders victory against extremely long odds.
Ideally for the Highlanders, other games would feature the Reds hosting and beating the Hurricanes, the Chiefs thumping Moana Pasifika in Hamilton, and the Force beating the Waratahs in Perth.
Running tally: Chiefs 46, Brumbies 43, Crusaders 42, Reds 36, Blues 31, Hurricanes 27, Force 27, Highlanders 26, Moana Pasifika 24, Waratahs 24, Drua 19. Round 16
It comes down to this.
The Highlanders need one more miracle to confirm their place in the top six.
Under the Friday night lights for a third consecutive week, they only go and knock over the table-topping Chiefs. Bravo, lads.
The Brumbies beat the Crusaders in Canberra, the Blues tonk the Tahs at Eden Park, Ardie Savea leads Moana Pasifika to a rousing win over the Hurricanes in Wellington and the Reds whack the Drua in Brisbane.
Final points: Chiefs 47, Brumbies 47, Crusaders 43, Reds 41, Blues 36, Highlanders 30, Hurricanes 28, Moana Pasifika 28, Force 27, Waratahs 24, Drua 19.
First-round playoff games thus being Chiefs v Highlanders, Brumbies v Blues, Crusaders v Reds.
It really is that simple. Ah, no, they can't
Hurricanes, Crusaders, Chiefs.
With the greatest respect for a good bunch of blokes who will try their hardest, do Highlanders fans really see any of these games ending in victory?
If the Highlanders do lose all three, their only hope of avoiding the wooden spoon is likely to be the Drua losing — at their Lautoka fortress — on Saturday afternoon.