Highlanders vs Western Force Predictions - Highlanders backed for convincing victory

The Highlanders have won five of their last six games against the Western Force. However, it was the Force who won the last encounter in 2023.

The Highlanders are struggling down in 10th place on the table with just two victories from eight games. However, they are just two points off eighth which is the final playoff spot.

This weekend offers the Dunedin-based outfit a great chance to get a convincing home win and climb up the table. After a solid start to their campaign, the Landers’ have struggled of late, losing their last three matches comfortably.

After taking a seven-point loss away to the Chiefs, the Highlanders were beaten 47-12 at home by the Hurricanes. That was followed by a 47-31 defeat to the Rebels in Melbourne before going down 31-0 to the Reds last weekend.

The Highlanders should be at full-strength given that victory could take them into the playoff spots.

The Western Force have, just like their opponents, won just two of their eight games to date. They are two points behind the Highlanders because of bonus points.

It has been a strange season for the Force. They have lost heavily in games where they were expected to compete, but then their two victories came against the high-flying Reds towards the end of March and last weekend at home to the Crusaders.

Before beating the Saders’ 37-15 at home last weekend, the Force were hammered 50-3 in Auckland by the Blues. The week prior to that they lost 31-13 against Fijian Drua.

The Western Force will see this as a chance to climb a position or two up the table. However, always struggled to get results in New Zealand.