Hore to lead Highlanders against 'Canes
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph has named Andrew Hore as captain of the team to face the Hurricanes in their Super Rugby showdown in Dunedin on Saturday.
Joseph has made three changes to the run-on team that played the Sharks in Durban last weekend – naming Hore to captain the Highlanders against his former team, the ‘Canes.
Ma’afu Fia and Nick Crosswell come into the forward pack replacing, Jamie Mackintosh and Doug Tietjens.
Tietjens suffered a serious knee injury in South Africa and the Highlanders skipper, Mackintosh, has been rested after playing every game this season. Fia will start on the tighthead side of the scrum, moving Chris King to loosehead.
Crosswell will start at blindside flank, with Adam Thomson shifting to openside.
In the backs, Phil Burleigh comes back into the run-on XV in place of Shaun Treeby who suffered a broken cheekbone against the Sharks last weekend.
On the reserves bench, Bronson Murray and Kenny Lynn return to the 22 after injury layoffs and Southland flank Tim Boys makes a welcome return to Super Rugby.
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Siale Piutau, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Phil Burleigh, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Mike Delany, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Adam Thomson, 6 Nick Crosswell, 5 Jarrad Hoeata, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Ma’afu Fia, 2 Andrew Hore (captain), 1 Chris King.
Replacements: 16 Jason Rutledge, 17 Bronson Murray, 18 Culum Retallick, 19 Tim Boys, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Chris Noakes, 22 Kenny Lynn.
Date: Saturday, May 12
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Kick-off: 19.35 (-7.35 GMT)
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Keith Brown (New Zealand), Matthew Muir (New Zealand)
TMO: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
