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Follow all the action on the RugbyPass live blog from the Super Rugby match between the Highlanders and the Rebels at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
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A week after a 33-13 trouncing at the hands of the Crusaders, Highlanders head coach Aaron Mauger has wrung five changes to his starting side.
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Two of those alterations come in the front row, as All Blacks hooker Liam Coltman is demoted to the bench following a dismal showing at the lineout last week.
In his place comes the veteran Ash Dixon, who joins loosehead prop Daniel Lienert-Brown as the new faces up front while last week’s starting No. 1 Ayden Johnstone moves to the pine.
Jesse Parete maintains his place in the second row, but will have a new starting partner in the form of Jack Whetton, who has usurped Josh Dickson in the No. 5 jersey following a rusty defensive display.
All Blacks blindside flanker Shannon Frizell is handed a rest week, and that hands exciting loose forward Teariki Ben-Nicholas his maiden start at Super Rugby level.
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?TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT ?
Your Landers side to take on the @melbournerebels back under the roof!
Who’s excited? ?? #WhereExcitementHappens #ZOOISBACK #HIGvREB pic.twitter.com/LVetvi7mRv— Highlanders (@Highlanders) February 25, 2020
Just one change has been made in the backline, with Canterbury speedster Josh McKay given the No. 14 jersey after ex-Reds star Kris Kuridrani failed to assert his dominance in Christchurch.
Additionally, there are three potential Highlanders debutants in the reserves through ex-Chiefs tighthead prop Jeff Thwaites, Southland lock Manaaki Selby-Rickit and Olympic sevens hopeful Scott Gregory.
They join a fresh-looking contingent of substitutes, which also includes one-test All Blacks flanker Dillon Hunt, who was absent from last week’s defeat.
For the Rebels, four changes have been made by head coach Dave Wessels following their 36-24 loss to the Sharks in Ballarat last Saturday.
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Try-scoring hooker Anaru Rangi returns to the run-on XV in place of Steven Misa, while South African second-rower Gideon Koegelenburg starts at lock ahead of the benched Ross Haylett-Petty.
??TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT
Here's our starting XV to take on the @Highlanders in Dunedin this Friday night!#MarchWithUs pic.twitter.com/Azy1LTHVlY
— Melbourne Rebels (@MelbourneRebels) February 26, 2020
Elsewhere, Angus Cottrell moves back into the No. 6 jersey in place of Michael Wells, and Wallabies playmaker Matt Toomua returns from injury to sends last week’s pivot Andrew Deegan into the reserves.
Haylett-Petty and Deegan are among five new faces, including Wells, Wallabies rake Jordan Uelese and young South African tighthead prop Cabous Eloff.
In other news:
