Speight's Highlanders to play the Reds

The Sky Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competition kicks off on Friday night with the Australian champions, the Queesnland Reds, in Dunedin. This will be the first time the Highlanders’ have played an Australian opposition since 28th Febraury 2020 when we played the Rebels at home.  

There are only minor changes to the team that played in the last round of Super Rugby Aotearoa with lock Pari Pari Parkinson returning from injury and Hugh Renton coming into the starting XV. 

In the backs, Michael Collins comes into the centre position pushing Patelesio Tomkinson out to the right wing and Sam Gilbert to fullback. 

A strong bench includes Ethan De Groot, Bryn Evans and Tasman injury replacement first five-eighth, Tim O’Malley.

Highlanders v Reds, 7.05pm, Friday 14 May, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

1.   Ayden Johnstone

2.   Ash Dixon (cc)

3.   Siate Tokolahi

4.   Pari Pari Parkinson

5.   Josh Dickson

6.   Hugh Renton

7.   Billy Harmon

8.   Kazuki Himeno

9.   Aaron Smith (cc)

10. Mitch Hunt

11  Jona Nareki

12. Scott Gregory

13. Michael Collins

14. Patelesio Tomkinson

15. Sam Gilbert

RESERVES

16. Liam Coltman

17. Ethan De Groot

18. Josh Hohneck

19. Bryn Evans

20. James Lentjes

21. Kayne Hammington

22. Tim O’Malley

23. Ngatugnane Punivai

Unavailable due to injury: Daniel Lienert-Brown (arm), Josh Ioane (leg), Jeff Thwaites (leg)

Season ending injuries: Jermaine Ainsley (ankle), Fetuli Paea (ankle), Freedom Vaahakalo (foot), Folau Fakatava (knee), Thomas Umaga-Jensen (wrist), Connor Garden-Bachop (hand), Liam Squire (knee) Marino Mikaele Tu’u (leg), Caleb Makene (leg), Josh Timu (ankle)