Rugby
1News

Highlanders skipper Ben Smith expects stiff challenge from 'desperate' Chiefs

May 3, 2019

The Chiefs dwindle at the bottom of the NZ Super Rugby ladder.

The Highlanders are currently on a two game winning streak, but co-captain Ben Smith says his side won't be getting too ahead of themselves as they prepare for a "desperate" Chiefs side on Saturday.

Smith's team host the Chiefs tomorrow night at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin. The Chiefs dwindle at the bottom of the New Zealand Super Rugby conference, having lost their last two matches. 

"We know they [Chiefs] will be hungry, so we know it will be a desperate game for them," said Smith.

"We need to be desperate too, yeah it's going to be a big clash come Saturday night." 

Smith said his team's turnaround in the competition is due to to trust within the side and the adjustment of their game management plans at the back end of games.

"Yeah, I think it's just keeping the trust in what you are doing, even the games we were losing we weren't too far away.

"We knew that as a team, we knew that if we could fix especially the back end of games and how we close games out that we will be more efficient."

SHARE ME

More Stories