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All Blacks rested for Lions clash

Aaron Smith. Photo / Getty Images.

The Highlanders have returned from South Africa, but on Saturday they will face a third consecutive South African opponent in the conference-leading Lions.

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Aaron Mauger has named his starting fifteen, with All Blacks halfback Aaron Smith a notable omission.

29-year-old Smith has been rested, with Kayne Hammington and Josh Renton providing cover. James Lentjes will play at seven with All Black Dillon Hunt earning a break while Fijian winger Tevita Nabura will make his second appearance of the season on the left wing. Josh Dickson and Marino Mikaele Tu’u will provide fresh legs off the bench.

Mauger is glad to be back at Forsyth Barr Stadium, “we are all looking forward to the opportunity to be back at home to meet the significant challenge the Lions will provide.”

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The Lions will be without star Springboks hooker Malcolm Marx, who leads the team with seven tries and five breakdown steals. 23-year-old Marx suffered a high-grade hamstring tendon tear against the Hurricanes last weekend and is unlikely to feature for at least six weeks, ruling him out of South Africa’s June test series against England.

The last time the pair met in Dunedin was in round three of the 2016 season, where the Lions ventured into Forsyth Barr Stadium and were defeated by the Highlanders 34-15.

They later met in the competition’s semi-final, where the Lions hosted the Highlanders and dispatched the Kiwi side 42-30 at Ellis Park to earn a spot in the Super Rugby final.

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HIGHLANDERS

1. Daniel Lienert-Brown, 2. Liam Coltman, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Alex Ainley, 5. Tom Franklin, 6. Elliot Dixon, 7. James Lentjes, 8. Luke Whitelock, 9. Kayne Hammington, 10. Lima Sopoaga, 11. Tevita Nabura, 12. Teihorangi Walden, 13. Rob Thompson, 14. Waisake Naholo, 15. Ben Smith (C).
Reserves: 16. Ash Dixon (C), 17. Aki Seiuli, 18. Kalolo Tuiloma, 19. Josh Dickson, 20. Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, 21. Josh Renton, 22. Josh Ioane, 23. Patelesio Tomkinson.

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J
JW 9 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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