Pulse Energy Highlanders named to play Reds in Dunedin

The Pulse Energy Highlanders will play the Reds in the final round of the 2017 Investec Super Rugby Season on Friday night at home at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.

Head Coach Tony Brown has named a team that has a similar feel to the team that beat the British and Irish Lions team in the June break. Liam Squire, who has been side-lined with injury since round 11 after breaking his thumb against the Cheetahs, returns to the starting line up in the blind-side flank position. All Blacks, Aaron and Ben Smith will be rested for this game while Liam Coltman, Malakai Fekitoa and Waisake Naholo will run out against the Reds. Maori All Black representatives, Tom Franklin and Rob Thompson make the starting line-up and Ash Dixon is in the reserves.

Head Coach Tony Brown commented, “It’s great to have the boys all back together, we’ve had a great preparation week and are looking forward to a tough challenge against the Reds. The team is excited about putting on a great performance in what could be our last game at home in front of our fans ”.

The side will be co-captained by Luke Whitelock and Ash Dixon.

The Highlanders finals placing is yet to be determined but depending on results will likely play the Lions or Crusaders however that will not be known until the round is complete on Sunday morning.

Pulse Energy Highlanders v Reds 7.35pm, Friday 14th July, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin:

1. Daniel Lienert-Brown

2. Liam Coltman

3. Siate Tokolahi

4. Jackson Hemopo

5. Tom Franklin

6. Liam Squire

7. James Lentjes

8. Luke Whitelock (CC)

9. Kayne Hammington

10. Lima Sopoaga

11. Tevita Li

12. Rob Thompson

13. Malakai Fekitoa

14. Waisake Naholo

15. Richard Buckman

Reserves

16. Ash Dixon (CC)

17. Aki Seiuli

18. Guy Millar

19. Gareth Evans

20. Dan Pryor

21. Josh Renton

22. Marty Banks

23. Patelesio Tomkinson

Unavailable due to injury: Matt Faddes (Out for the season: Jason Emery, Hayden Parker, Shane Christie)

Guy Millar

Another foreign prop in NZ Super Rugby ...

No Elliot Dixon. From 2016 AB to not even being in the 23.

@Bovidae He shouldn't have been an All Black in 2016. He was outplayed by almost everybody.

Sopoaga with a point to prove.

@Tim said in Highlanders vs. Reds:

Guy Millar

Another foreign prop in NZ Super Rugby ...

Cap him!

Great to see Lentjes and Pryor back.

Is Hunt rested ? He's having a great SR season.

@Tim said in Highlanders vs. Reds:

@Bovidae He shouldn't have been an All Black in 2016. He was outplayed by almost everybody.

But probably should've made it in 2015 where he was an absolute menace throughout the season.

A weak Reds side:

Karmichael Hunt, Izaia Perese, Campbell Magnay, Duncan Paia’aua, Eto Nabuli, Quade Cooper, James Tuttle, Adam Korczyk, George Smith, Caleb Timu, Izack Rodda, Rob Simmons, Taniela Tupou, Stephen Moore (c), Sef Fa’agase.

Reserves: Alex Mafi, Markus Vanzati, Sam Talakai, Kane Douglas, Reece Hewat, Moses Sorovi, Hamish Stewart, Jayden Ngamanu

@Duluth Is that also as strong as that side gets?

@Hooroo

Kerevi & Higginbotham have been two of their better players.

They're picking more youngsters than normal too. 10 players 21yrs or younger and 2 guys on debut

This will probably be a massacre of a low skill team. Is anyone other than Highlanders fans actually going to watch it?

The one time Malakai should have been a hungus and he passed it.

Naholo gets the try.

@Tim Of course, nothing better than the Reds getting butchered.

@Stargazer I'm gonna watch it too, but it's gotta be boring for most neutrals?

@Nepia haha my thoughts exactly

Nice turn of pace by Squire on the opposite side in the lead up to it too

Great run by Squire - I'm thinking we could have done with that aggressive running against the BIL

PT surely?

so you lose 20m and advantage over?

Was that a high tackle from Quade earlier?