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Highlanders prepare for life without Lima in first preseason hit-out

Josh Ioane. Photo by Dianne Manson/Getty Images

The Highlanders are getting set to play their first game of the season in Alexandra on Friday night, where they will be without a few familiar faces.

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They will take on the visiting New South Wales Waratahs in their annual preseason fixture at Molyneux Park Stadium. The whole squad will be in attendance, however the All Blacks in the squad will not participate.

All eyes will be on 23-year-old first five-eighths Josh Ioane and Bryn Gatland as the pair of young halves battle it out with veteran Marty Banks to earn the No 10 jersey left vacant by longtime Highlander and All Black Lima Sopoaga.

Ioane received the starting nod for Friday’s fixture, while Gatland will feature from the bench once the squad rotates.

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The game will be played across three 30 minute periods and will be an ideal opportunity for both teams to get their campaigns started on a positive note.

The team for the first 30 minute period will be:

1. Ayden Johnstone
2. Liam Coltman
3. Josh Iosefa-Scott
4. Pari Pari Parkinson
5. Josh Dickson
6. Marino Mikaele Tu’u
7. Dillon Hunt
8. Luke Whitelock (C)
9. Folau Fakatava
10. Josh Ioane
11. Tevita Li
12. Thomas Umaga-Jensen
13. Rob Thompson
14. Matt Faddes
15. Josh McKay

Forwards Reserves: Ray Niuia, Sef Fa’agase, Tyrel Lomax , Jackson Hemopo, James Lentjes, Ash Dixon, Joe Apikotoa, Jack Whetton, Ethan De Groot, Manaaki Selby-Rickett, Ricky Jackson

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Backs Reserves: Kayne Hammington, Bryn Gatland, Tevita Nabura, Marty Banks, Teihorangi Walden, Sio Tomkinson, Josh Timu

Not Playing: Elliot Dixon, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Tom Franklin, Richard Buckman, Liam Squire, Shannon Frizell, Aaron Smith, Waisake Naholo, Ben Smith

Injured: Siate Tokolahi

Rugby World Cup City Guides – Kumamoto:

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N
Nickers 29 minutes ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

I thought we made a lot of progress against that type of defence by the WC last year. Lots of direct running and punching holes rather than using width. Against that type of defence I think you have to be looking to kick on first phase when you have front foot ball which we did relatively successfully. We are playing a lot of rugby behind the gain line at the moment. They are looking for those little interchanges for soft shoulders and fast ball or off loads but it regularly turns into them battering away with slow ball and going backwards, then putting in a very rushed kick under huge pressure.


JB brought that dimension when he first moved into 12 a couple of years ago but he's definitely not been at his best this year. I don't know if it is because he is being asked to play a narrow role, or carrying a niggle or two, but he does not look confident to me. He had that clean break on the weekend and stood there like he was a prop who found himself in open space and didn't know what to do with the ball. He is still a good first phase ball carrier though, they use him a lot off the line out to set up fast clean ball, but I don't think anyone is particularly clear on what they are supposed to do at that point. He was used really successfully as a second playmaker last year but I don't think he's been at that role once this year. He is a triple threat player but playing a very 1 dimensional role at the moment. He and Reiko have been absolutely rock solid on defence which is why I don't think there will be too much experimentation or changes there.

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