No Ben for Highlanders
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Ben Smith will miss the Highlanders game against the Crusaders as he continues to recover from a leg infection that saw him hospitalised for three days following last weekend’s game.
Smith's absence will be the first time he has not made the match 23 for the Highlanders since April 2012.
Highlanders’ head coach, Jamie Joseph has made four changes to the team that started against the Waratahs in Sydney last week.
The front row has two changes with Liam Coltman rejoining the starting line-up at hooker and Chris King coming back onto the tighthead side of the scrum.
Hayden Parker will start at flyhalf, Trent Renata replaces Smith at fullback and Gareth Evans rounds out the bench as loose forward cover.
As they enter the final round of the regular season the Highlanders are still in the hunt for a play-off spot and a win against the Crusaders would help solidify that position.
Highlanders: 15 Trent Renata, 14 Richard Buckman, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Hayden Parker, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Manu (captain), 7 Shane Christie, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Joe Wheeler, 4 Tom Franklin, 3 Chris King, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Kane Hames.
Replacements: 16 Ged Robinson, 17 Matias Diaz, 18 JP Koen, 19 Josh Bekhuis, 20 Gareth Evans, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Lima Sopoaga, 23 Phil Burleigh.
Date: Saturday, June 12
Venue: AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Kick-off: 17.35 (7.35 GMT)
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Garratt Williamson (New Zealand), Kane McBride (New Zealand)
TMO: Chris Watt (New Zealand)
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