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Another week, another shuffle of the loose forwards for the Highlanders

(Photo by Mike Owen/Getty Images)

The Highlanders have named their side to take on the Crusaders for this Friday’s match.

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The two teams were due to face off earlier in the season but the match was called off and treated as a draw after the Christchurch shootings.

Unsurprisingly, young Otago first-five Josh Ioane has been recalled at 10 after Marty Banks’ injury.

Equally as unsurprisingly, coach Aaron Mauger has again shuffled his loose forward trio with Elliot Dixon coming in for the rested Luke Whitelock. No combination of loose forwards has started more than two matches this season for the Highlanders.

The Highlanders are now on a four-match losing streak and will soon find the finals out of reach if their season doesn’t take a sharp turn upwards in the next few weeks.

Friday will mark captain Ben Smith’s 150th Super Rugby match.

Highlanders team: Ben Smith (c), Matt Faddes, Rob Thompson, Tei Walden, Tevita Li, Josh Ioane, Kayne Hammington, Elliot Dixon, James Lentjes, Shannon Frizell, Tom Franklin, Pari Pari Parkinson, Tyrel Lomax, Liam Colman, Daniel Lienert-Brown. Reserves: Ash Dixon, Ayden Johnstone, Siate Tokolahi, Josh Dickson, Jackson Hemopo, Folau Fakatava, Bryn Gatland, Patelesio Tomkinson.

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Nickers 36 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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