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Speight’s Highlanders to play the Crusaders
24 February 2021
The opening round of Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa will feature the two Southern clubs first battle of the season. The Highlanders will host the Crusaders in what promises to be an epic encounter. Always hard-fought, the Highlanders will be looking to begin their season strongly against the reigning Sup Rugby Aotearoa Champions.
Highlander’s Head Coach, Tony Brown, has opted for a six forward, two back split on the bench which includes All Blacks Liam Coltman, Liam Squire and Josh Ioane as well as Highlanders debutants Hugh Renton and Bryn Evans. In the starting line-up Otago lock, Jack Regan, off the back of some good preseason performances will partner his provincial teammate, Josh Dickson in the middle row. New loose forward recruit, Billy Harmon, will wear the number 7 jersey against his former team and with Shannon Frizell and Marino Mikaele Tu’u forms a strong loose trio.
Also making their debut for the Highlanders are Connor Garden-Bachop and Solomon Alaimalo. Garden-Bachop missed all of last season with injury but has looked impressive in the preseason while Alaimalo will be looking to continue the good form he showed for the Chiefs last year.
Following the conclusion of the game on Friday night, there will be a pounamu mere presented to Co-Captain Ash Dixon to acknowledge his achievement of 100 games for a Super Rugby Club. Dixon played his 100th game against the Crusaders at Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch on 9th August 2020 however the presentation was delayed until it could be made in front of a home crowd.
Highlanders v Crusaders – 7.05pm, Friday 26th February, Forsyth Barr Stadium
1. Daniel Lienert-Brown
2. Ash Dixon (cc)
3. Siate Tokolahi
4. Josh Dickson
5. Jack Regan
6. Shannon Frizell
7. Billy Harmon
8. Marino Mikaele-Tu’u
9. Aaron Smith (cc)
10. Mitch Hunt
11 Jona Nareki
12. Patelesio Tomkinson
13. Ngatungane Punivai
14. Connor Garden-Bachop
15. Solomon Alaimalo
Reserves
16. Liam Coltman
17. Josh Hohneck
18. Jeff Thwaites
19. Bryn Evans
20. Liam Squire
21. Folau Fakatava
22. Josh Ioane
23. Hugh Renton
Unavailable due to injury: Sam Gilbert (knee), Ayden Johnstone (Concussion), Pari Pari Parkinson (ankle)
Season ending injuries: Jermaine Ainsley (ankle), Fetuli Paea (ankle)
ENDS
