Three pack changes for Highlanders
The Highlanders have made four changes for Friday’s New Zealand derby against the Chiefs.
Co-captain Ash Dixon will take the place of hooker Liam Coltman who has been ill this week.
Tighthead prop Siate Tokolahi returns to the front row, with Tyrel Lomax reverting to the bench for the Hamilton clash.
Lock Josh Dickson will make his first appearance for the season with Tom Franklin, who has started all four previous matches, moving to the bench.
Matt Faddes, an impact player in earlier rounds, will start at centre with Rob Thompson shifting to second five-eighth.
On the bench, young Otago midfielder Patelsio Tomkinson makes the 23 for the first time and hooker Greg Pleasants-Tate also makes his way into the reserves with Coltman out.
‘‘The team changes are a reflection of the depth of talent we have in the squad,’’ Highlanders head coach Aaron Mauger said.
‘‘Josh has played extremely well for the Bravehearts team to earn a start and Matt has shown some nice touches when he has come on for us.
‘‘As a group we are under no illusions as to the challenge this week, the Chiefs are an in form side playing in front of their home crowd so it ought to be another great tussle’’ said Mauger.
The Highlanders have lost their last three away games, the last time they lost more in a row was a four-game drought to round out their 2014 campaign.
Meanwhile Chiefs co-captain Charlie Ngatai will make his return from injury via the bench against the Highlanders.
The 27-year-old suffered a grade two MCL tear in his knee in the Highlanders: 15: Ben Smith (c-c), 14: Waisake Naholo, 13-Matt Faddes, 12-Rob Thompson, 11-Tevita Li, 10-Lima Sopoaga, 9-Aaron Smith, 8-Luke Whitelock, 7-Dillon Hunt, 6-Elliot Dixon, 5-Josh Dickson, 4-Jackson Hemopo, 3-Siate Tokolahi, 2-Ash Dixon (c-c), 1-Daniel Lienert-Brown. Reserves: 16. Greg Pleasants-Tate 17. Aki Seiuli 18. Tyrel Lomax 19. Tom Franklin 20. Shannon Frizell 21. Josh Renton 22. Fletcher Smith 23. Patelsio Tomkinson. Chiefs: Solomon Alaimalo, Toni Pulu, Anton Lienert-Brown, Johnny Fa’auli, Sean Wainui, Damian McKenzie, Brad Weber, Taleni Seu, Sam Cane (co-c), Liam Messam, Tyler Ardron, Brodie Retallick, Angus Ta’avao, Nathan Harris, Aidan Ross. Reserves: Liam Polwart, Karl Tu’inukaufe, Jeff Thwaites, Pita Gus Sowakula, Lachlan Boshier, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Marty McKenzie, Charlie Ngatai (co-c). Hamilton, Friday, 7.35pm. Referee: Glen Jackson. season-opener against the Crusaders last month and after missing the past three matches, will ease back into action this weekend.
Having initially been instated as the team’s first-choice fullback, Ngatai is now also be an option to slot into his previous midfield role too, with the Chiefs running out a changed-up back-three for the Kiwi derby at FMG Stadium Waikato. Assistant coach Neil Barnes said there was a team policy this year to give injured players an extra week to ensure they were fully fit, and though Ngatai was now 100 per cent the coaching staff weren’t desperate to rush him back into a team which has won three on the bounce.