Highlanders planning to give Stormers the runaround

Highlanders loosie Elliot Dixon collects a high ball during a match against the Crusaders. Photo: Joe Allison / www.photosport.nz

Highlanders loosie Elliot Dixon collects a high ball during a match against the Crusaders. Photo: Joe Allison / www.photosport.nz

Published Mar 5, 2018

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DUNEDIN, New Zealand – The Highlanders had a weekend bye but used the chance to suss out the Stormers, their next Super Rugby opponents in Dunedin on Friday.

They had a careful look at the Stormers' effort against the Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday in order to know what they can expect on Friday night in Dunedin.

So far as Highlanders loose forward Elliot Dixon was concerned it wasn't so much of a problem to have a bye in the second week of the season. 

"In the second half I thought they (the Stormers) came out with real direct play with their forwards, and with momentum, and once they start to get gainline they're a real scary team. We saw with the Crusaders it is quite hard to stop big boys like that if they're coming phase after phase, after phase,"said Dixon.

"And they've got some quite good razzle out in the backs and getting it to the width and having a go."

The Stormers were big up front but they also liked to throw the ball around and they were going to have guaranteed dry conditions at Forsyth Barr Stadium and they were going to be big and set-piece orientated, he said.

"If we let them play from set-piece to set-piece it's going to be a long night in the office but with us we want to see if they can run around with us and if we can run them around a bit faster it will be good for us," he said.

African News Agency (ANA)

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