Smith back at fullback for Highlanders
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Highlanders head coach Aaron Mauger has named his team to face the Chiefs in a Super Rugby Round 12 encounter in Dunedin on Saturday.
No changes to the forward pack and the return of Ben Smith to fullback are the main features of the Highlanders team this week.
The pack have been rewarded for a dominant effort against the Sunwolves and some consistent form. Co-captain, Luke Whitelock, will again play at blindside combining with Elliot Dixon and James Lentjes in a well performing back row.
In the backs, Patelesio Tomkinson, moves to the reserves and Matt Faddes to the right wing to accommodate the return of Ben Smith at fullback.
“Typically your NZ conference games are fiercely contested, that was certainly the case earlier in the season against the Chiefs, so we are expecting nothing less from this game,” said Mauger.
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith (co-captain), 14 Matt Faddes, 13 Rob Thompson, 12 Teihorangi Walden, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Elliot Dixon, 7 James Lentjes, 6 Luke Whitelock (co-captain), 5 Tom Franklin, 4 Jackson Hemopo, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown.
Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Ayden Johnstone, 18 Siate Tokolahi, 19 Josh Dickson, 20 Shannon Frizell, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Josh McKay, 23 Sio Tomkinson.
Date: Saturday, May 4
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Kick-off: 19.35 (07.35 GMT)
Referee: Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Brendon Pickerill, James Doleman
TMO: Glenn Newman
