Highlanders vs Western Force Prediction: Hosts can stop the rot

| 26th April |

3 mins read

Two sides in dire need of a positive result meet at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday as the 10th-placed Highlanders take on a Western Force side one place below them in the Super Rugby Pacific standings.

The Highlanders have lost their last five Super Rugby outings but a return to winning ways could be on the cards against a Western Force side who have lost their last 11 games away from Perth. Read on for my Highlanders vs Western Force prediction, alongside all the latest team news and match odds for this Sky Sports Arena televised fixture (KO, 08:05).

Highlanders vs Western Force Betting Tips

Highlanders to win by 1-12 points @ 2/1

Match Odds

The Highlanders are 1/3 favourites to claim the spoils with the Force available at 12/5 to take the points back to Western Australia.

The tie can be backed at 22/1 and it is 11/4 that the match features 71 or more total points.

Team News

Highlanders head coach Clarke Dermody has rung the changes to the side trounced 31-0 by the Queensland Reds.

A straight swap at hooker sees Henry Bell replace Ricky Jackson, and there is a double change in the second row with Hugo Plummer and Pari Pari Parkinson making way for Mitch Dunshea and Fabian Holland.

Dermody makes four alterations to his backline, with the most eye-catching changes coming in the halves where Folau Fakatava and Rhys Patchell are chosen ahead of James Arscott and Cam Millar, who are both on the bench.

Connor Garden-Bachop moves over to left wing to replace Jona Nareki – Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens switches to the vacant full-back position – while a like-for-like change at inside centre sees Jake Te Hiwi replace Sam Gilbert.

The Force have named just two new faces in their starting XV following their 35-17 victory over the Crusaders last time out.

Marley Pearce comes in at loosehead prop in place of Ryan Coxon while Izack Rodda is preferred to Tom Franklin in the second row.

However, there a trio of fresh players on the bench for the trip to New Zealand, with Feleti Kaitu’u, Josh Bartlett and Jeremy Williams all set to make an impact as a substitute.

Highlanders to win by 1-12 points @ 2/1

Both the Highlanders and Western Force have had a tough time of it in Super Rugby this season, with just four wins registered between the pair from a combined 16 matches.

The points for and against tallies are remarkably similar – the Force have scored two and conceded four more points than Highlanders – so a tight affair can be expected in Dunedin.

Home advantage could be a decisive factor and the Highlanders should feel confident that they can make it count given they have won their last three home meetings with the visitors from Perth.

Although they have lost their last three at the Forsyth Barr Stadium, those trio of defeats come against the top three in the standings, and against a similar calibre of opponent as themselves, the hosts could eke out a narrow success.