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VIDEO: Highlanders bench a key All Black

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Highlanders coach Tony Brown has resisted making any major changes to his starting team to play the Chiefs in Hamilton on Friday.

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The starting pack remains the same – with Irish lock Jack Regan earning his second start.

There are two changes on the backline – with Josh Ioane starting at flyhalf and Mitch Hunt reverting to fullback, where he finished the game against the Crusaders last Friday.

Co-captain and veteran All Black Aaron Smith, who resigned this week for another two years, is on the bench – allowing Folau Fakatava his first start for the season.

Fakatava had an outstanding NPC campaign for Hawkes Bay and impressed off the bench against the Crusaders in Round One.

(Continue below video …)

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On the bench, Manaaki Selby-Rickit replaces Bryn Evans and Solomon Alaimalo rounds out the six forwards, two backs reserve bench.

Several players remain unavailable due to injury – Sam Gilbert (knee), Ayden Johnstone (concussion) and Paripari Parkinson (ankle).

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Jermaine Ainsley (ankle) and Fetuli Paea (ankle) won’t play again this season, as a result of their injuries.

Highlanders: 15 Mitch Hunt, 14 Connor Garden-Bachop, 13 Ngatungane Punivai, 12 Patelesio Tomkinson, 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, 7 Billy Harmon, 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Jack Regan, 4 Josh Dickson, 3 Siate Tokolahi, 2 Ash Dixon (co-captain), 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown.
Replacements: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 Josh Hohneck, 18 Jeff Thwaites, 19 Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 20 Liam Squire, 21 Aaron Smith (co-captain), 22 Solomon Alaimalo, 23 Hugh Renton.

Date: Friday, March 5
Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Kick-off: 19.05 (06.05 GMT)
Referee: Paul Williams
Assistant referees: Mike Fraser, James Doleman
TMO: Brendon Pickerill

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