Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Young back row named by Highlanders to face Crusaders

Nikora Broughton of the Highlanders charges forward during the round 11 Super Rugby Pacific match between Moana Pasifika and Highlanders at Teufaiva Sport Stadium, on May 04, 2024, in Nuku'alofa, Tonga. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

The Highlanders have named a young back row to take the Crusaders as they look to end a multi-year losing streak against New Zealand teams.

ADVERTISEMENT

It won’t be easy with the Crusaders boosted by multiple All Blacks and winning nine of the last 10 against the Highlanders. The last win was back in 2021 by 33-12.

Fixture
Super Rugby Pacific
Highlanders
32 - 29
Full-time
Crusaders
All Stats and Data

Captain Billy Harmon will miss the match after cutting his hand against Moana Pasifika in Tonga, which means Sean Withy will start at openside with Oliver Haig named on the blindside. Firebrand loose forward Nikora Broughton has been named at No.8 to round out the young trio.

Video Spacer

Video Spacer

Elsewhere in the team Cam Miller will start again at first five-eighth along with Folau Fakatava, while Jake Te Hiwi will start in the midfield with Tanielu Tele’a.

“I was pleased with how Cam led the team last week, especially when Billy had to leave the field in Tonga, he stepped up and he’s been given the opportunity to that again for us this week,” head coach Clarke Dermody said.

Connor Garden-Bachop will miss the game due to HIA protocols while former New Zealand U20 fullback Finn Hurley has been named on the bench.

“We’re at the business end of the season and this game is important, not just because of the history tied to the rivalry, but also because every point counts towards the end of the season,” Dermody said.

ADVERTISEMENT

Highlanders team to play the Crusaders:

1. Ethan de Groot (c)
2. Henry Bell
3. Jermaine Ainsley
4. Mitch Dunshea
5. Fabian Holland
6. Oliver Haig
7. Sean Withy
8. Nikora Broughton
9. Folau Fakatava
1o. Cameron Millar
11. Martín Bogado
12. Jake Te Hiwi
13. Tanielu Tele’a
14. Timoci Tavatavanawai
15. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens

RESERVES

16. Jack Taylor
17. Ayden Johnstone
18. Saula Ma’u
19. Will Tucker
20. Will Stodart
21. James Arscott
22. Sam Gilbert
23. Finn Hurley

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

K
KB 1 hour ago
France outwrestle All Blacks in titanic Test for one-point win

Im guessing you never lived in NZ under r dern and red commie labour

We were forced and in some cases mandated to take the V - I know of 7 people who D taking it and many with untold injuries - Minimium 12 K D in NZ taking it - it was never safe never effective never worked just Maimed and K'd qe were close to being thrown in quarantine camps Oz Govt MO Health have just recenty completed their c commission - they admit they never had the provable data to justify their actions and decisions & that the public will never accept it ever happening again Ardern is hated here ( 1 M patriots forced her out ) - bloomfield her side kick 2IC dr D excempted 11k from taking it - we (not u) know who they were the Pol and Public servants who knew they were fatal - A zeneca pulled it off the market due 2 excess D's - Japan banned them - called them stupid poison -

P M Shinzo Abe opposed the v and sent over a million doses back - because of that he was murdered - So were the heads of several African nations who also opposed the fake v they were k'd and their replacements allowed their countries to be swamped with them - C was V wasnt bought in fo C - C was bought in for the V

Im not here to talk politics but if want to I can all day especially to a RED neck commie like you - whats it going to be Rugby or Politics or mud slinging give me something to think about - surprise me with something meaty - not just word salad


52 Go to comments
K
KB 1 hour ago
France outwrestle All Blacks in titanic Test for one-point win

Im guessing you never lived in NZ under r dern and red commie labour

We were forced and in some cases mandated to take the V - I know of 7 people who D taking it and many with untold injuries - Minimium 12 K D in NZ taking it - it was never safe never effective never worked just Maimed and K'd qe were close to being thrown into quarantine camps C was only a rebranded Flu


Oz Govt MOH have completed their c commission - they admit they never had the proveable data to make justify their statements and decisions & that the public will never accept it ever happening again - they fired rubber B into peaceful protestors Ardern is hated here ( 1 M patriots forced her out ) - bloomfield her side kick 2IC dr D excempted 11k from taking it - we (not u) know who they were the Pol and Public servants who knew they were fatal - A zeneca pulled it off the market due 2 excess D's - Japan banned them - called them stupid poison -

P M Shinzo Abe opposed the v and sent over a million doses back - because of that he was murdered - So were the heads of several African nations who also opposed the fake v they were k'd and their replacements allowed their countries to be swamped with them - C was V wasnt bought in fo C - C was bought in for the V

Im not here to talk politics but if u want to I can all day especially to a RED neck commie like you - whats it going to be Rugby or Politics or mud slinging give me something to think about - surprise me with something meaty - just not word salad


52 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ 'Two groups of dancing bears': The cross-code clash making a comeback for charity 'Two groups of dancing bears': The cross-code clash making a comeback for charity
Search