Highlanders bolster the pack

 

This shuffle comes after the loss to Brumbies on the road in Round 11.

 

Josh Hohneck returns to tighthead prop, Mark Reddish has recovered from injury to replace Joe Wheeler who suffered a grade three MCL tear last week.

 

Finally, in the forwards, both Gareth Evans and Dan Pryor make the starting team.

 

The Highlanders three All Blacks, Aaron Smith, Ben Smith and Malakai Fekitoa return to the field after their one round rest and the versatile Richard Buckman comes into inside centre to cover for Shaun Treeby.

 

Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith (co-captain), 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Richard Buckman, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Manu (co-captain), 7 Dan Pryor, 6 Gareth Evans, 5 Mark Reddish, 4 Tom Franklin, 3 Josh Hohneck, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Kane Hames.

Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Brendon Edmonds, 18 Pingi Tala’apitaga, 19 Joe Latta, 20 Elliot Dixon, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Marty Banks, 23 Jason Emery.

 

Date: Friday, May 1

Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

Kick-off: 19.35 (09.35 SAST, 07.35 GMT)

Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)

Assistant referees: Kane McBride (New Zealand), Mike Lash (New Zealand)

TMO: Aaron Paterson (New Zealand)