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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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J
JW 1 hour ago
'They smelt it': Scott Robertson says Italy sensed All Blacks' vulnerability

Even the 20/30 cappers did too I reckon.


IDK, I think Jordan has a limited life span in this side unless he can develop more to his game. Like you go on to mention, I think theyres more important things to worry about than the effectiveness of someone's extra strings, or secondary components to their game.


Bash backs are Fosters thing, and to a large part they've made it work. Theyre now one of the best teams in the world.


They boy's trucked it up a bit against Italy in the redzone, and against France, wasn't that effective without the right players probably.


Try and take a look at it this way. Dissapointed Havili and Blackadder were in the side? Havili despite clearly shown that he can't do what the team needs at 12 was kept on for the RWC. Back goes down and he brings in Blackadder who doesn't play. Refuses to drop Christie when he should and look who starts this season. Beauden Barret not playing well enough to keep his 10 jersey but we gotta keep him in the side. Weve only got one 8, we stuff developing another I'll just play Ardie every game.


This years team wasn't burdened overly with injuries but they were in every position Razor might have wanted to try and development, severely limiting options. I'm not defending Razor as there was also plenty of other opportunity to make up for it and he was a little gunshy, but I'm also not going to overly criticise him because he chose cohesion over a black slate.

How long are we going to keep blaming All Black failings on Ian Foster.

I think more and more people are on board with it being time to try alternatives, but then again, how would they have reacted to a loss against Italy? 😉

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LONG READ 'Steve Borthwick hung his troops out to dry - he should take some blame' 'Steve Borthwick hung his troops out to dry - he should take some blame'
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