Highlanders forced to change
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph has been forced into making a few changes to the team to play the Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday.
After a hard-fought one-point victory over the Lions in Dunedin last week the team will be looking to secure a vital away win against the Hurricanes in this Round 14 Super Rugby outing.
Chris King's one week foul-play suspension sees Kane Hames move back into the starting line-up.
Aki Seiulu will warm the replacement bench as prop cover, after being called up from the club scene – with both King and Brayden Mitchell unavailable.
Jarrad Hoeata returns to the team in what will be his 50th Super Rugby game, after debuting in 2010 for the Chiefs against the Lions.
Hayden Parker makes his second start at flyhalf, with Lima Sopoaga still recovering from a high ankle sprain suffered against the Stormers on the second match of their South Africa tour.
Sopoaga is expected to be available for what is shaping up to be the biggest home game of the year – the Highlanders versus the Crusaders in Dunedin on Saturday, May 24.
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith (co-captain), 14 Richard Buckman, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Jason Emery, 10 Hayden Parker, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Manu (co-captain), 7 Shane Christie, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Joe Wheeler, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Ma'afu Fia, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Kane Hames.
Replacements: 16 Ged Robinson, 17 Matias Diaz, 18 Aki Seiulu, 19 Tom Franklin, 20 Gareth Evans, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Trent Renata, 23 Phil Burleigh.
Date: Friday, May 16
Venue: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: 19.35 (07.35 GMT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand), Kane McBride (New Zealand)
TMO: Aaron Peterson (New Zealand)
