Highlanders Named To Play Blues @ Forsyth Barr Stadium
Highlanders’ Head Coach, Jamie Joseph, has named his team to play the Blues at Forsyth Barr Stadium tomorrow night. The match takes on additional significance with The Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy on the line.
The trophy honours one of the characters of Otago rugby who was also in the unique position of having coached both the Highlanders and the Blues.
Otago, under Hunter’s tutelage in the early 1990s, was regarded as one of the most exciting teams in New Zealand and had talent that graced the All Blacks, including players such as Jeff Wilson, Josh Kronfeld and Taine Randell. Hunter, who also played for Otago, was coach of Otago from 1992 until 1995 and became coach of the Highlanders in the first year of Super Rugby.
He then advanced to join the New Zealand selection panel; his first year produced the first test series win by the All Blacks in South Africa. At the end of Hunter’s tenure with the All Blacks in 1999, he took over as coach of the Blues, continuing in that role until ill health forced his retirement. Throughout his coaching career Hunter combined his passion for rugby with his profession as a detective. He died in 2002
Highlanders v Blues, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin – Saturday 1 June, 7.35pm.
1. Jamie Mackintosh
2. Andrew Hore (captain)
3. Ma’afu Fia
4. Brad Thorn
5. Josh Bekhuis
6. Jarrad Hoeata
7. John Hardie
8. Mose Tuiali’i
9. Fumiaki Tanaka
10. Colin Slade
11. Hosea Gear (vice-captain)
12. Shaun Treeby
13. Tamati Ellison
14. Trent Renata
15. Ben Smith
Reserves
16. Liam Coltman
17. Bronson Murray
18. Elliot Dixon
19. TJ Ioane
20. Aaron Smith
21. Hayden Parker
22. Ma’a Nonu
Head Coach – Jamie Joseph. Assistant Coach – Scott McLeod, Assistant Coach – Jon Preston, Scrum Coach – Kees Meeuws. Manager – Graham Purvis
Related Posts
« Durban braces itself for major rugby invasion Fans tell the Blues what to wear for match against France »