Smith surprise return

Highlanders fullback Ben Smith will make a surprise start in his team’s preseason match in Queenstown tomorrow. All Blacks are usually nowhere to be seen when Super Rugby teams run out for their opening pre-season hit out, but the recharged ABs vice-captain will start in the No 15 jersey against the Waratahs.

Smith hasn’t played since the All Blacks beat Australia 35-29 in Dunedin last October, but voluntarily returned early from his sabbatical to train with the Highlanders in December.

The 31-year-old, who had an injury riddled year before his break last year, will co-captain the Dunedin-based franchise with hooker Ash Dixon this season.

Highly touted prop Tyrel Lomax, the son of former Kiwi league player John Lomax and a former Melbourne Rebel, is one of five new Highlanders who will start against the Waratahs.

Flanker Dillon Hunt, who caught All Blacks

AT A GLANCE

Highlanders v Waratahs Queenstown Recreation Ground Friday, 6pm

Highlanders: Ben Smith (co-capt), Josh Timu, Terrence Hepetema, Tei Walden, Tevita Nabura, Josh Ioane, Josh Renton, Adam Knight, Dillon Hunt, Shannon Frizell, Josh Dickson, Pari Pari Parkinson, Tyrel Lomax, Greg Pleasants-Tate, Aki Seiuli. Reserves: Ash Dixon, Guy Millar, Kalolo Tuiloma, Siate Tokolahi, Jackson Hemopo, Kayne Hammington, Fletcher Smith, Ryan Tongia, Flynn Thomas, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Tom Franklin, Dan Pryor, Marino Mikaele Tu’u, Rob Thompson, Matt Faddes, Tevita Li, Josh McKay. “We don’t look to, and don’t generally, make much of a profit (from pre-season games),” Crusaders chief executive Hamish Riach said. “We like to do more than break even and if we have any left over at the end, we have a policy of sharing (50 per cent) that with the local rugby union.

“But primarily it is not so much about the financial return, it’s all about taking the Crusaders to the regions and getting the season underway. The aim isn’t to generate a huge amount of money.”

Robertson has already stated the final preseason game, against the Highlanders in Waimumu on February 15, is when he wants to give his fit All Blacks their first run of the season. Among the internationals unavailable because of injury are No 8 Kieran Read and props Owen Franks and Joe Moody.

Read is not expected to be fit until around mid-April because he had surgery on a prolapsed lumbar disc in his back prior to Christmas. Franks (Achilles tendon) and Moody (shoulder) could be back in action in late March.

The Crusaders first competition game is against the Chiefs on February 24