VIDEO: Highlanders bench a key All Black
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Highlanders coach Tony Brown has resisted making any major changes to his starting team to play the Chiefs in Hamilton on Friday.
The starting pack remains the same – with Irish lock Jack Regan earning his second start.
There are two changes on the backline – with Josh Ioane starting at flyhalf and Mitch Hunt reverting to fullback, where he finished the game against the Crusaders last Friday.
Co-captain and veteran All Black Aaron Smith, who resigned this week for another two years, is on the bench – allowing Folau Fakatava his first start for the season.
Fakatava had an outstanding NPC campaign for Hawkes Bay and impressed off the bench against the Crusaders in Round One.
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On the bench, Manaaki Selby-Rickit replaces Bryn Evans and Solomon Alaimalo rounds out the six forwards, two backs reserve bench.
Several players remain unavailable due to injury – Sam Gilbert (knee), Ayden Johnstone (concussion) and Paripari Parkinson (ankle).
Jermaine Ainsley (ankle) and Fetuli Paea (ankle) won’t play again this season, as a result of their injuries.
Highlanders: 15 Mitch Hunt, 14 Connor Garden-Bachop, 13 Ngatungane Punivai, 12 Patelesio Tomkinson, 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Folau Fakatava, 8 Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, 7 Billy Harmon, 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Jack Regan, 4 Josh Dickson, 3 Siate Tokolahi, 2 Ash Dixon (co-captain), 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown.
Replacements: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 Josh Hohneck, 18 Jeff Thwaites, 19 Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 20 Liam Squire, 21 Aaron Smith (co-captain), 22 Solomon Alaimalo, 23 Hugh Renton.
Date: Friday, March 5
Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Kick-off: 19.05 (06.05 GMT)
Referee: Paul Williams
Assistant referees: Mike Fraser, James Doleman
TMO: Brendon Pickerill
