Highlanders Named To Play Hurricanes In Wellington
Ben Smith
Highlanders’ Head Coach, Jamie Joseph, has named his team to play the Hurricanes at Westpac Stadium in Wellington tomorrow night.
Three changes have been made to the run-on team that beat the Waratahs in Dunedin last weekend. In the forwards, Ma’afu Fia makes his first starting appearance for the Highlanders this season. In the backs, Ben Smith makes his return to the run-on XV after sustaining a head knock against the Crusaders and halfback Jimmy Cowan makes his first start of the 2012 campaign.
Smith will start at fullback and Colin Slade will move into first-five, replacing Lima Sopoaga which sustained a shoulder injury against the Waratahs.
Chris Noakes also returns from injury and will join the 22.
Highlanders v Hurricanes, Westpac Stadium, Wellington, Saturday 17 March, 8:35am CAT.
1. Jamie Mackintosh (C)
2. Andrew Hore
3. Ma’afu Fia King
4. Josh Bekhuis
5. Nick Crosswell
6. Adam Thomson
7. John Hardie
8. Nasi Manu
9. Jimmy Cowan
10. Colin Slade
11. Hosea Gear
12. Phil Burleigh
13. Tamati Ellison
14. Kade Poki
15. Ben Smith
Reserves:
16. Jason Rutledge
17. Bronson Murray
18. Culum Retallick
19. James Haskell
20. Aaron Smith
21. Chris Noakes
22. Buxton Popoali’i
Head Coach – Jamie Joseph, Assistant Coach – Simon Culhane, Manager – Leicester Rutledge
Injured Update: Chris King (groin), Jarrad Hoeata (shoulder), Siale Piutau (ankle), Kenny Lynn (neck) & Shaun Treeby (knee).
