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Highlanders lock Josh Dickson returns from suspension for Reds clash
By Alex McLeod
Highlanders lock Josh Dickson has returned early from suspension for this week's Super Rugby Pacific clash against the Reds in Brisbane.
Dickson was handed a three-week suspension by SANZAAR after being sent from the field for a high tackle on Hurricanes prop Tevita Mafileo last month, a ban that was set to rule him out until next week's match against the Western Force.
However, the 27-year-old is back a week earlier than originally planned after serving only two weeks of his suspension, freeing him up to face the Reds in Brisbane on Friday.
The addition of Dickson to the starting Highlanders side - at the expense of Sam Caird - is one of three made from the team that defeated the Fijian Drua in Suva last weekend.
The only other changes come at hooker, where former All Blacks rake Liam Coltman swaps in for Andrew Makalio, while flanker James Lentjes has been given the status of co-captain after coming in at No 6 in place of Christian Lio-Willie.
It's the first time this season that Lentjes has been named as co-captain alongside regular skipper Aaron Smith.
“It’s great to have Colty, Jimmy and Josh back for this one," Highlanders head coach Tony Brown said in a statement on Wednesday.
"The Reds are very strong up front, and it will be a tough old night for the small numbers and we’re counting on energy off the bench when they’re called on as we know we will need all hands-on deck Friday night.”
Brown added that he expects a strong challenge from the Brad Thorn-coached Reds, who have enjoyed eight wins from 11 matches over the Highlanders in Brisbane since the beginning of Super Rugby.
“The Reds are the current Australian Super Rugby champions and their form this year has again been right up there having won seven from ten. Brad has instilled a lot of confidence into his troops, and this will be a tough game for us no doubt.”
One extra change has been made in the reserves, as experienced tighthead prop Josh Hohneck drops out to take way for youngster Saula Ma'u.
Kick-off for Friday's game is scheduled for 7:45pm local time [9:45pm NZT].
Highlanders team to face Reds
1. Ethan de Groot
2. Liam Coltman
3. Josh Hohneck
4. Bryn Evans
5. Josh Dickson
6. James Lentjes (co-c)
7. Billy Harmon
8. Marino Mikaele-Tu'u
9. Aaron Smith (co-c)
10. Mitch Hunt
11. Scott Gregory
12. Fetuli Paea
13. Thomas Umaga-Jensen
14. Sam Gilbert
15. Connor Garden-Bachop
Reserves
16. Rhys Marshall
17. Daniel Lienert-Brown
18. Saula Ma'u
19. Max Hicks
20. Hugh Renton
21. Folau Fakatava
22. Marty Banks
23. Mosese Dawai
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Latest Comments
Nah, that just needs some more variation. Chip kicks, grubber stabs, all those. Will Jordan showed a pretty good reason why the rush was bad for his link up with BB.
If you have an overlap on a rush defense, they naturally cover out and out and leave a huge gap near the ruck.
It also helps if both teams play the same rules. ARs set the offside line 1m past where the last mans feet were😅
Go to commentsYeah nar, should work for sure. I was just asking why would you do it that way?
It could be achieved by outsourcing all your IP and players to New Zealand, Japan, and America, with a big Super competition between those countries raking it in with all of Australia's best talent to help them at a club level. When there is enough of a following and players coming through internally, and from other international countries (starting out like Australia/without a pro scene), for these high profile clubs to compete without a heavy australian base, then RA could use all the money they'd saved over the decades to turn things around at home and fund 4 super sides of their own that would be good enough to compete.
That sounds like a great model to reset the game in Aus. Take a couple of decades to invest in youth and community networks before trying to become professional again. I just suggest most aussies would be a bit more optimistic they can make it work without the two decades without any pro club rugby bit.
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