Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

All Blacks stars return to starting line up for Highlanders

Aaron Smith. (Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)

The Highlanders will welcome back two of their All Blacks into the starting lineup for their clash against the Sunwolves in Tokyo on Friday.

ADVERTISEMENT

Aaron Smith and Luke Whitelock have been named to start in the Japanese capital after coming off the bench in last week’s 24-12 win over the Blues in Dunedin.

It will be Smith’s first Super Rugby start since succumbing to an ankle injury against the Blues in Auckland last month, while it will be Whitelock’s first run-on appearance since damaging his calf against the Hurricanes at Forsyth Barr Stadium three weeks ago.

Their returns to the starting side will offset the dropping of in-form All Blacks flanker Shannon Frizell, who has been relegated to the bench in place of Whitelock for the first time since the Highlanders’ season-opening win against the Chiefs in February.

Joining him on the pine is one-test openside flanker Dillon Hunt, who is in line to make his first Super Rugby appearance in five weeks.

Hunt appears to have fallen out of favour with Highlanders head coach Aaron Mauger in recent weeks, who has preferred James Lentjes in the No. 7 jersey, but this weekend’s clash will provide Hunt with an opportunity to state his case for a starting role as the backend of the season nears.

Experienced midfielder Rob Thompson also returns to the starting side to form a reliable midfield combination with Tei Walden, which pushes young Sio Tomkinson out to the wing, as Matt Faddes shifts to fullback in place of the rested Ben Smith.

ADVERTISEMENT

There are minimal changes elsewhere, although former Reds prop Sef Fa’agase could make his long-awaited debut from the bench after replacing rookie Ayden Johnstone from last week’s side.

The match kicks off at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium at 7pm local time.

Highlanders: 1. Daniel Lienert-Brown, 2. Liam Coltman, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Jackson Hemopo, 5. Tom Franklin, 6. Luke Whitelock (c), 7. James Lentjes, 8. Elliot Dixon, 9. Aaron Smith, 10. Josh Ioane, 11. Tevita Li, 12. Tei Walden, 13. Rob Thompson, 14. Sio Tomkinson, 15. Matt Faddes

Reserves: 16. Ash Dixon, 17. Sef Fa’agase, 18. Siate Tokolahi, 19. Josh Dickson, 20. Shannon Frizell, 21. Kayne Hammington, 22. Bryn Gatland, 23. Dillon Hunt

In other news:

Video Spacer

ADVERTISEMENT

O2 Inside Line: All In | Episode 5 | Making Waves

Confidence knocks and finding your people | Flo Williams | Rugby Rising Locker Room

Tackling reasons for drop-out in sport | Zainab Alema | Rugby Rising Locker Room

Krakow | Leg 3 | Day 2 | HSBC Challenger Series | Full Day Replay

Kubota Spears vs Tokyo Sungoliath | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

Jet Lag: The biggest challenge facing international sports? | The Report

Boks Office | Episode 39 | The Investec Champions Cup is back

Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry? | New Zealand & Australia | Sevens Wonders | Episode 5

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

J
JW 2 hours ago
Reds vs Blues: Ex-All Black missed the mark, Lynagh’s Wallabies statement

Agree re Lynagh.


Disagree Beaver got it wrong. Blues made that look easy. It might be a brawn over brains picture though? More in the last point, but, and this may have changed by player selection, the Reds were very lucky this game. Tele’a should not have been red carded as Ryan landed on his shoulder, and both Tate and Jock (was it) should have been yellowed carded for their offenses in stopping tries. We also had a try dissallowed by going back 10 phases in play. We all should have learned after the RWC that that is against the rules. So straight away on this simple decisions alone the result changes to go in the Blues favour, away from home and playing fairly poorly. The sleeping giant if you will. I didn’t agree with the Blues take either tbh, but to flip it around and say it’s the Reds instead is completely inaccurate (though a good side no doubt you have to give them a chance).


And you’re also riding the wave of defense wins matches a bit much. Aside from Dre’s tackling on Rieko I didn’t see anything in that match other than a bit of tiny goal line defending. I think if you role on the tap for another second you see the ball put placed for the try (not that I jump to agree with Eklund purely because he was adamant), and in general those just get scored more often than not. They are doing something good though stopping line breaks even if it is the Blues (and who also got over the line half a dozen times), I did not expect to be greeted with that stat looking at the game.

8 Go to comments
A
Ashley Carson 2 hours ago
'Not real Lions': How the 1989 British and Irish tourists put Australia on the map

Life can unravel in an instant. For me, that moment came when deceitful cryptocurrency brokers vanished with £40,000 of my savings, a devastating blow that left me paralyzed by shame and despair. The aftermath was a fog of sleepless nights, self-doubt, and a crushing sense of betrayal. I questioned every choice, wondering how I’d fallen for such a scheme. Hope felt like a luxury I no longer deserved. Then, Tech Cyber Force Recovery emerged like a compass in a storm. Skeptical yet desperate, I reached out, half-expecting another dead end. What I found, however, was a team that radiated both expertise and empathy. From our first conversation, they treated my crisis not as a case file, but as a human tragedy. Their professionalism was matched only by their compassion, a rare combination in the often impersonal world of finance.

What happened next defied logic. Within 72 hours of sharing my story, they traced the labyrinth of blockchain transactions, outmaneuvering the scammers with surgical precision. When their email arrived, “Funds recovered, secure and intact,” I wept. It wasn’t just the money; it was the validation that justice could prevail. Tech Cyber Force Recovery didn’t just restore my finances, they resurrected my dignity. But their impact ran deeper. They demystified the recovery process, educating me without judgment. Their transparency became a lifeline, transforming my fear into understanding. Where I saw chaos, they saw patterns; where I felt powerless, they instilled agency. Today, I’m rebuilding not just my savings, but my trust in humanity. Tech Cyber Force Recovery taught me that vulnerability isn’t weakness, and that seeking help is an act of courage. To those still trapped in the aftermath of fraud: miracles exist. They wear no capes, but they wield algorithms and integrity like superheroes. To the extraordinary Tech Cyber Force Recovery team, your work is more than technical prowess. It’s alchemy, turning despair into resilience. You gave me more than my funds; you gave me my future. May your light guide countless others through their darkest nights. From the depths of my heart: Thank you.

Consult Tech Cyber Force Recovery for help.

MAIL.. Techcybersforcerecovery@cyberservices.com

3 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING The All Black prop who played 80 minutes to sink the Blues Fletcher Newell talks sinking Blues with scrum
Search