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Highlanders bring in the brother of Nemani Nadolo for Crusaders clash

Kurisi Kuridrani. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

The Highlanders have retained most of last week’s team to play the Crusaders in Christchurch on Friday night but the addition of a former Queensland Reds winger should get fans excited.

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There are no changes to the forward pack that earned a last-minute victory against the Brumbies last week. However, a conventional five: three split on the bench means there is no room for Dillon Hunt this week.

In the backs, the reliable Michael Collins moves to fullback and Josh McKay to the bench.

The suspended Patelesio Tomkinson is replaced by Kirisi Kuridrani for his debut performance. Kuridrani, who is the brother of former Fiji and Crusaders superstar Nemani Nadolo, previously played Super Rugby for the Reds.

He has represented both Fijian and Australian age-grade sides and spent two seasons in Japan before suiting up for Counties Manukau in the 2019 Mitre 10 Cup.

Continue reading below…

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The combination of Mitch Hunt and Josh Ioane will continue for another week and Rob Thompson returns from injury to play at centre which sees Teihorangi Walden drop to the bench.

Head Coach, Aaron Mauger has shown faith in the team that did the job against the Brumbies but understands playing the Crusaders in Christchurch presents a different challenge.

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“Their record at home tells you all you need to know about how well they play in Christchurch, every team that plays there knows what to expect,” Mauger said.

“This week for us is about enjoying another opportunity to test ourselves and we are looking forward to that.”

Highlanders: Michael Collins, Kurisi Kuridrani, Rob Thompson, Josh Ioane, Jona Nareki, Mitch Hunt, Aaron Smith, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, James Lentjes (c), Shannon Frizell, Josh Dickson, Jesse Parete, Siate Tokolahi, Liam Coltman, Ayden Johnstone. Reserves: Ash Dixon, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Conan O’Donnell, Jack Whetton, Teariki Ben-Nicholas, Kayne Hammington, Teihorangi Walden, Josh McKay.

– with Highlanders Rugby

WATCH: The RugbyPass Original, “Nemani”, explores the life and career of Fijian rugby legend Nemani Nadolo.

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AM 42 minutes ago
'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

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