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Highlanders blend experience with seven new faces for Waratahs
By Ned Lester
Seven players will don Highlanders colours for the first time this weekend as the team gets their 2025 campaign underway in Sydney.
Injuries to a handful of familiar faces have helped pave the way for two Super Rugby debuts in the starting XV. Co-captain Timoci Tavatavanawai's shift to the midfield is the other noteworthy selection.
There's electric pace aplenty across the backline, with youngsters Caleb Tangitau and Michael Manson starting outside the physical midfield duo of Tavatavanawai and Tanielu Tele'a. Finn Hurley provides cover from the bench.
Nathan Hastie and Taine Robinson have been named to start in the halves in something of a surprise selection, with Folau Fakatava and Cam Millar named as reserves.
In the forwards, All Blacks Ethan de Groot leads the front row of former Blues hoker Soane Vikena and the 140 kg Saula Ma'u. Rising talent Fabian Holland starts alongside Mitch Dunshea in the second row.
A Super Rugby debut has been handed to Lui Naeata, who has been selected on the blindside flank next to Sean Withy and co-captain Hugh Renton.
"We are excited to get our season underway, there is a lot of enthusiasm and energy around the squad as we prepare for a tough opener against the Waratahs," head coach Jamie Joseph said.
"We have named a mix of debutants and experienced players to provide us with the understanding and creativity needed to take on a team full of international players."
Highlanders team to play Waratahs
- Ethan de Groot
- Soane Mikaele Vikena (Highlanders Debut)
- Saula Ma’u
- Fabian Holland
- Mitch Dunshea
- Lui Naeata (Super Rugby Pacific Debut)
- Sean Withy
- Hugh Renton (CC)
- Nathan Hastie
- Taine Robinson (Highlanders Debut)
- Caleb Tangitau (Highlanders Debut)
- Timoci Tavatavanawai (CC)
- Tanielu Tele’a
- Michael Manson (Super Rugby Pacific Debut)
- Sam Gilbert
Impact:
16. Henry Bell
17. Daniel Lienert-Brown
18. Sefo Kautai (Highlanders Debut)
19. Nikora Broughton
20. Veveni Lasaqa (Highlanders Debut)
21. Folau Fakatava
22. Cameron Millar
23. Finn Hurley
Injury update:
Oliver Haig (foot / 9 weeks )
Jonah Lowe (ACL / 7 weeks )
Thomas Umaga-Jensen (shoulder / 2 weeks)
TK Howden (hamstring / 4 weeks)
Jona Nareki (ankle /5 weeks)
Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens (neck / 9 weeks)
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Go to commentsI’d take the Sharks, Stormers, Bulls, and Lions back in a second. Super Rugby Pacific is improving and the conference system sucked ass and never should have been implemented but if you think the quality of rugby is better without the South African franchises, you are kidding yourself.
And there is nothing authentic about Moana Pacifika, it is a sixth NZ franchise. Almost all of the players are NZ citizens, born and raised in NZ, were developed by NZ secondary schools and play in the NPC. The players just happen to be of Pacific heritage (just as there are a very large number of Pacific heritage players on the original five NZ franchises). Moana Pacifika is a marketing ploy for Auckland’s second SRP franchise.
Fiji Drua are legitimately a Pacific island team. Most players are born in Fiji, the players live and train in Fiji, and they play their home matches in Fiji.
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