Highlanders out for revenge
March 5, 2002

Highlanders coach Laurie Mains said on Monday his charges would be out for revenge when they face the Cats at Dunedin's Carisbrook fortress on Friday.

The Otago-based team suffered a humiliating 56-21 defeat at the hands of the Cats at Ellis Park last year, ironically by a team than coached by Mains (pictured).

But the Highlanders side of 2002 look a much better outfit under the expert guidance of the former All Blacks coach and, following their 45-5 drubbing of the Sharks on Saturday, are ready for their next South African challenge.

"Some players in the Highlanders team still remember that humiliation by the Cats at Ellis Park last year," Mains was quoted on News24.

"I was satisfied with our performance against the Sharks, but there are certain aspects of our game that we want to improve against the Cats."

The wily coach added he wasn't taking too much from the Cats' 64-16 loss to the Brumbies at Canberra Stadium on Saturday. "That can happen on any day to any team in the Super 12.

"The same happened in 2000 when I was the Cats coach. Then the Brumbies beat us 64-0. The most important thing is how a team comes back in their next game. In 2000 the Cats won their next five matches on the trot after that defeat," he said.

Both teams have a won one, lost one record this season as they prepare for the third round.

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