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England international named in Highlanders midfield for Hurricanes clash

(Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)

It may be a holiday weekend for most, but the Highlanders will have work on their mind this Easter Saturday when they play their last New Zealand derby match against the Hurricanes at Forsyth Barr Stadium (7.05pm kick off).

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A solid win last week against a physical and courageous Moana Pasifika would have provided Highlander’s fans the promise of better things to come in the back half of the competition.

The prospect of win against a New Zealand club should provide plenty of interest for the faithful. This will be the last opportunity for fans to support the team for a while, as they depart for a three-week tour to Australia and Fiji and won’t return to Forsyth Barr Stadium until round 13 to host the Western Force for the first time since 2016.

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Head Coach Tony Brown is looking forward to the encounter after getting a win last week.

“We certainly needed the win just to provide that bit of confidence we need to believe in our ability to capitalise the opportunities that we are creating in every game we play,” he said.

“The Hurricanes play an expansive style and under the roof we have had some great clashes, so Saturday night should be awesome. I know as a team we are excited about the opportunity.”

The balance of the side remains the same as Brown looks to cement combinations that can deliver the results crucial to the Highlanders working their way up the table.

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It will be a happy Easter for the Evans family as brothers Bryn and Gareth are part of three changes to the forward pack, partly forced by injuries to Shannon Frizzell and Manaaki Selby-Rickit. Older brother Bryn will start at lock and the versatile Gareth comes on to the side of the scrum at blindside flanker.

Veteran hooker Liam Coltman returns to the front row after a break and the well performed Andrew Makalio will come off the bench.

In the backs a welcome return from injury for the hard charging Thomas Umaga-Jensen partnering with former English International Denny Solomona. An exciting combination that delivers both speed and power.

Scott Gregory moves out to the wing and Marty Banks will steer the ship from ten providing a well-earned respite for Mitch Hunt who has started every game so far this season.

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Banks will bring up his 50th Super Rugby Cap this weekend. He joined the club in the championship year, 2015, and has been a fan favourite ever since and there will be a warm reception from our fans for him reaching this important milestone.

A feature of the bench will be the return from long term injury of Billy Harmon. Harmon was a standout performer for the Highlanders last season and his ability to force turnovers and his link play will be a welcome addition to the loose forward group. The young trio of Saula Mau, Max Hicks and Folau Fakatava should provide plenty of energy late in the game from the bench.

The Highlanders will be having their first full team community event on Friday 15th April (Good Friday) at the Dunedin Botanic Garden and invite families to come down and participate in an Easter Hunt. Starting at 10:30am from the main entrance opposite Gardens New World.

Highlanders team to play v Hurricanes:

  1. Ethan De Groot
  2. Liam Coltman
  3. Jermaine Ainsley
  4. Bryn Evans
  5. Josh Dickson
  6. Gareth Evans
  7. James Lentjes
  8. Marino Mikaele-Tu’u
  9. Aaron Smith (C)
  10. Marty Banks (50th Super Rugby Cap)
  11. Scott Gregory
  12. Thomas Umaga-Jensen
  13. Denny Solomona
  14. Sam Gilbert
  15. Connor Garden Bachop

Reserves

16. Andrew Makalio
17. Daniel Lienert-Brown
18. Saula Mau
19. Max Hicks
20. Billy Harmon
21. Folau Fakatava
22. Mitch Hunt
23. Fetuli Paea

-Press Release/Highlanders

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J
JW 10 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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