Highlanders name rookie for Stormers
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph has made two changes to his team, both in the pack, to play the Stormers on Saturday.
The Highlanders host the South African conference leaders in Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Hooker Ash Dixon will start ahead of Liam Coltman at hooker.
The other change will see rookie openside flank James Lentjes make his Super Rugby debut.
Lentjes made a good impression with Otago during the NPC last year and joined the squad last week – as injury cover for Shane Christie and John Hardie – although he did train with the side in pre-season.
He replaces Dan Pryor in the starting XV, with the latter dropping down to the replacement bench.
The backline is unchanged from the team that lost to the Hurricanes last week.
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Players unavailable through injury include Shane Christie (hamstring), Richard Buckman (knee), Kane Hames (suspended), Ross Geldenhuys (Thumb) and John Hardie (ankle).
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith (co-captain), 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Manu (co-captain), 7 James Lentjes, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Joe Wheeler, 4 Tom Franklin, 3 Josh Hohneck, 2 Ash Dixon, 1 Brendon Edmonds.
Replacements: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Pingi Tala'apitaga, 19 Mark Reddish, 20 Dan Pryor, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Marty Banks, 23 Jason Emery.
Date: Saturday, March 28
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Kick-off: 19.35 (08.35 SA time; 06.35 GMT)
Referee: Rohan Hoffmann (Australia)
Assistant referees: Mike Fraser (New Zealand), Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)
TMO: Chris Wratt (New Zealand)
