Highlanders search for elusive win
The defending champions are yet to taste victory in the lead-up to the 2016 season, having lost to Racing 92 and claiming a draw with the Crusaders. With that in mind, head coach Jamie Joseph has opted to field all four of their World Cup winning All Blacks.
It will be the first time this year that Ben Smith, Waisake Naholo, Malakai Fekitoa and Aaron Smith will take to the field together while Japan international Fumiaki Tanaka and Hayden Parker will also be having their first run-out of the season since returning from their championship winning efforts with the Wild Knights in Japan.
Parkers return will see Marty Banks rested this week.
In his debut for the Highlanders, powerful Canterbury midfielder Rob Thompson will combine with Fekitoa in mid-field and the All Black pairing of Aaron Smith and Lima Sopoaga will be the pivots.
Dan Pryor has recovered from his knee injury and will take his place on the bench with co-captain Shane Christie taking a break this week.
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith (captain), 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Rob Thompson, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Liam Squire, 7 James Lentjes, 6 Luke Whitelock, 5 Joe Wheeler, 4 Tom Franklin, 3 Josh Hohneck, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown.
Replacements – from: Ash Dixon, Brendon Edmonds, Ross Geldenhuys, Mark Reddish, Gareth Evans, Fumiaki Tanaka, Elliot Dixon, Jason Emery, Teihorangi Walden, Matt Faddes, Hayden Parker, Dan Pryor.
Date: Friday, February 19
Venue: Queenstown, NSW
Kick-off: 14.30 (01.30 GMT)
Referee: Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
