Highlanders drop six, Nareki fit to face Crusaders

Sydney: The Highlanders have axed six players for Friday night’s clash against the Crusaders for letting the team’s standards down.

All Black Josh Ioane, Daniel LienertBrown, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Teariki BenNicholas, Patelesio Tomkinson, and Sione Misiloi have all been left out of the side for the southern showdown.

“They’ve let down the organisation”, Highlanders head coach Tony Brown said. He added it was “an easy decision”.

Form Highlanders wing Jona Nareki is fit again to face the Crusaders while Brown has also handed starts to Kazuki Himeno, Thomas Umaga-Jensen and Scott Gregory. Flanker Himeno was impressive off the bench during the disappointing 30-19 loss to the Hurricanes in Dunedin last Friday, and has promptly been rewarded by Brown.

The Japanese loose forward adds some real mongrel to the Highlanders pack, where

Shannon Frizell has been a standout but needs some help.

Calebe Makene is set to debut off the bench with Josh Ioane missing from the 23. Assistant coach Clarke Dermody said the Highlanders’ game was “in a pretty good place” despite their 1-3 record and a daunting trip to Christchurch ahead of them,

“We know how hard it is [playing the Crusaders away],” Dermody said. “The last few years we’ve been right in games and then the last 20 minutes they’ve put us away.

“[But] our game, we feel like we are in a pretty good place.

Highlanders: Connor Garden-Bachop, Scott Gregory, Michael Collins, Thomas UmagaJensen, Jona Nareki, Mitch Hunt, Folau Fakatava, Kazuki Himeno, Billy Harmon, Shannon Frizell, Pari Pari Parkinson, Bryn Evans, Siate Tokolahi, Ash Dixon (cc), Ethan de Groot.

Reserves: Liam Coltman, Ayden Johnstone, Josh Hohneck, Josh Dickson, Hugh Renton, Aaron Smith (cc), Caleb Makene, James Lentjes.