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Highlanders make one change ahead of must-win Blues derby
By Finn Morton
The Highlanders have only made one change to their starting side ahead of their must-win clash against the Blues at Eden Park on Friday.
Following the Highlanders’ thrilling win over the Queensland Reds in Dunedin, head coach Clarke Dermody has named Scott Gregory on the right wing – Jonah Lowe falls out of the matchday 23.
Ethan de Groot, Andrew Makalio and Jermaine Ainsley make up the front row trio this week, while Pari Pari Parkinson and Max Hicks round out the tight five.
Captain Billy Harmon will pack down in the loose forward trio Shannon Frizell and Hugh Renton.
All Black Aaron Smith joins Freddie Burns in the halves again this week, while fullback Mitch Hunt will provide another playmaking option in attack.
Matt Whaanga – who was called into the run-on side as a last-minute replacement last week – has retained his spot in the No. 13 alongside goalkicking ace Sam Gilbert.
Finally, Jonah Nareki and Scott Gregory take their places on the wings.
The highly anticipated New Zealand derby between the Highlanders and Blues is set to get underway at Eden Park at 7.05pm NZST on Friday night.
Highlanders team to take on Blues
- Ethan de Groot
- Andrew Makalio
- Jermaine Ainsley
- Pari Pari Parkinson
- Max Hicks
- Shannon Frizell
- Billy Harmon (c)
- Hugh Renton
- Aaron Smith
- Freddie Burns
- Jona Nareki
- Sam Gilbert
- Matt Whaanga
- Scott Gregory
- Mitch Hunt
Replacements:
- Rhys Marshall
- Daniel Lienert-Brown
- Saula Ma’u
- Marino Mikaele-Tu’u
- Sean Withy
- Folau Fakatava
- Connor Garden-Bachop
- Fetuli Paea
Not available: Vili Koroi, Luca Inch, Marty Banks, Jeff Thwaites, Josh Timu, Jake Te Hiwi, Fabian Holland, Josh Dickson, Martin Bogado, James Lentjes, Thomas Umaga-Jensen
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Latest Comments
I was at this match. Jordie Barrett earned his money with a massive hit to slow a connaught attack to win the math when Leinster had 14 in the last few mins. Mack Hansen had a real go at the refereeing after citing a serious head hits on Iaone and Aki.
connaught were up for this. Snyman tried a trademark dirty after, and the onnaught 4 and the onnaught pack absolutely laid into him.
Leinster hose to kick to the corner when only winning by 5 with 10 left and qith only 2 tries scored. onnaught should have punisihed them for that utter stupidity after they broke out and Leinster yellowed to stop the attack.
13 changes from last week. It seems teams are scoring about 10 points less against Leinster this year. With Neinaber in his second year, the new attack coah established, surely they will be a bigger threat in champions up? Or will the attack recgress further.
They must adopt the SA philosophy of take your 3 pointers and the bonus points will come.
connaught back line inluding Iaone, Murphy, Aki, Forde, cordero is the seond best in Ireland surely. Leinster were lucky here
Go to commentsShould have played more for England but he jumped ship just as he was breaking through.
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