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De Groot returns for Highlanders to play Hurricanes

Ethan de Groot of the Highlanders receives medical attention during the round four Super Rugby Pacific match between Highlanders and ACT Brumbies at Forsyth Barr Stadium, on March 16, 2024, in Dunedin, New Zealand. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

All Blacks prop Ethan de Groot returns to the Highlanders as they prepare to face on the best front rows in Super Rugby Pacific against the Hurricanes.

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After being injured against the Brumbies two weeks ago, De Groot returns along with lock Max Hicks, while veteran tighthead Jermaine Ainsley has been sidelined with injury.

Exciting prospect Saula Ma’u will start in Ainsley’s place, with 21-year-old Rohan Wingham in line to debut off the bench.

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Partnering Hicks in the second row is Fabian Holland, while Sean Withy, Billy Harmon and Tom Sanders form the loose forward trio.

Fixture
Super Rugby Pacific
Highlanders
12 - 47
Full-time
Hurricanes
All Stats and Data

With Tanielu Tele’a ruled out through suspension, Jonah Lowe has been named at centre to partner Sam Gilbert. Josh Timu has been named on the bench as midfield cover.

The halves and back three remain unchanged from the team that just fell short against the Chiefs.

The Highlanders will lean a strong home record to break a five-match losing streak against the Hurricanes and a winless run against New Zealand teams that extends back to 2021.

Highlanders team to play Hurricanes:

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1. Ethan de Groot
2. Henry Bell
3. Saula Ma’u
4. Fabian Holland
5. Max Hicks
6. Sean Withy
7. Billy Harmon (C)
8. Tom Sanders
9. Folau Fakatava
10. Rhys Patchell
11. Jona Nareki
12. Sam Gilbert (VC)
13. Jonah Lowe
14. Timoci Tavatavanawai
15. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens

Reserves

16. Jack Taylor
17. Daniel Lienert-Brown
18. Rohan Wingham
19. Oliver Haig
20. Nikora Broughton
21. James Arscott
22. Ajay Faleafaga
23. Josh Timu

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R
RedWarriors 4 hours ago
Antoine Dupont undergoes surgery on injured knee ahead of long absence

Rugby incident, happens scores of times in a game. Dupont wasn’t even hit with much force, Beirne just clears him and force is added from behind from Furlong.

We can’t have special treatment for France just because their star is the one who gets unlucky.

There is already a lack of clarity around actual Written decisions and how they differ from bans.

For example, Mauvaka the official written decision states Mauvaka to have made a ‘reckless’, ‘deliberate’, shot ‘to the head’ of a ‘player in a vulnerable position’ on the ground. That’s a high level entry ban of 10 weeks. However, the press release did not show ‘reckless’ or ‘vulnerable player’ ticked alloweing Mauvaka to enter at the 6 match mid range.

Similarly Ntamack’s written report showed that it was a ‘reckless’, ‘head shot’ with ‘injury’. The injury was a fully displaced nose bone and Ntamack apologizes for the injury in the written report. This should give Ntamack an entry level of 6 weeks but in the Press Release ‘Injured’ is unticked meaning Ntamack gets away with a 4 week entry ban. This is not counting the fact that the world knows he deliberately injured Thomas.

No. France have been abusing the system for years, recently spreading disinformation about the Ringrose ban in order to undermine confidence in the process.

Giving France even more special treatment is not the answer.

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