Highlanders name team for Southern Derby
- 1415
A classic southern derby match awaits the Highlanders faithful on Saturday night at Forsyth Barr Stadium. The high-flying Crusaders will arrive with a nineteen-match winning record intact. The last time they tasted defeat was in the corresponding fixture last year and if history is any guide, then expectations are justifiably high for an exciting match with not too many points separating the two teams.
Highlanders Head Coach, Aaron Mauger, has largely stuck with the side that took on the Hurricanes last week with changes made for the two players that left the field with concussion injuries; Teihorangi Walden comes in for Thomas Umaga-Jensen and Jack Whetton for Pari Pari Parkinson. Shannon Frizell is in for the hard-working Jackson Hemopo and Tevita Li slips out of the 23 while Waisake Naholo returns to his right-wing spot. Siate Tokolahi is restored to the bench which will have a 6:2 forward/back split. Folau Fakatava and Marty Banks will cover the backs while openside flankers Dillon Hunt and James Lentjes are included in the same 23 for the first time this season.
- Ayden Johnstone
- Liam Coltman
- Tyrel Lomax
- Josh Dickson
- Jack Whetton
- Shannon Frizell
- James Lentjes
- Luke Whitelock (cc)
- Aaron Smith
- Josh Ioane
11 Richard Buckman
- Teihorangi Walden
- Patelesio Tomkinson
- Waisake Naholo
- Ben Smith (cc)
Reserves
- Ash Dixon
- Daniel Lienert-Brown
- Siate Tokolahi
- Tom Franklin
- Elliot Dixon
- Dillon Hunt
- Folau Fakatava
- Marty Banks
