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Highlanders name team as they prepare to become the first side to play the Drua in Suva
By Sam Smith
It is the second week on tour for the Highlanders arriving in Fiji on Monday after travelling from the Super Round in Melbourne weekend.
They have spent the week training and acclimatising to playing rugby in the hot and humid conditions which differ greatly to the autumnal Dunedin conditions they left a week ago.
This Saturday’s game at ANZ National Stadium in Suva will be another weekend for firsts as it will be the first time the Highlanders play the Fijian Drua and it will also be the first time the Fijian Drua play at home in Fiji.
They have been based in Australia for the earlier rounds of the DHL Super Rugby Pacific season.
An important game for both teams each having only one win this season. The Highlanders are expecting the Drua to rise to the occasion and will themselves be preparing to match that and put on a much needed 80-minute performance.
Highlander’s Head Coach Tony Brown is expecting a charged atmosphere as supporters come out to see the home side play for the first time.
“There are so many unique aspects to this game for both teams. We are expecting a very determined Fijian Drua team to turn up on Saturday, they will have plenty of home support from passionate fans that will be seeing their team at home for the very first time,” he said.
“We are expecting a tough encounter, the Drua play an exciting and unpredictable style and will need to be at our best for the full eighty.”
The team for round 11 includes the return of Aaron Smith who will Captain the side after being unavailable for selection in round 10.
A new look loose forward trio sees Marino Mikaele-Tu’u back at number 8 and after a barnstorming performance last weekend, Christian Lio-Willie, earns a start in the number 6 jersey with Billy Harmon completing the trio at 7. Gareth Evans has returned to Dunedin after receiving an injury against the Brumbies in Melbourne.
The team will have extra motivation to achieve with this weekend’s game being Tony Brown’s 100th involved with the Highlander’s coaching team, a feat that he fell just shy of as a player (97 caps from 2016-11) and brings his cumulative coaching and playing total to 197 games.
Alongside this, it is also Andrew Makalio’s 50th Super Rugby game. Andrew made his debut for the Highlanders this season after playing 43 games for the Crusaders between 2017 and 2021.
Highlanders v Fijian Drua – 4:00pm, Saturday 30th April, ANZ National Stadium, Suva, Fiji
- Daniel Lienert-Brown
- Andrew Makalio*
- Jermaine Ainsley
- Bryn Evans
- Sam Caird
- Christian Lio-Willie
- Billy Harmon
- Marino Mikaele-Tu’u
- Aaron Smith
- Mitch Hunt
- Scott Gregory
- Fetuli Paea
- Thomas Umaga Jensen
- Sam Gilbert
- Connor Garden Bachop
Reserves
16. Rhys Marshall
17. Ethan de Groot
18. Josh Hohneck
19. Max Hicks
20. James Lentjes
21. Folau Fakatava
22. Marty Banks
23. Hugh Renton
-Press Release/Highlanders
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Latest Comments
No just because the personal is much better than last year. I've shown no antagonism of Crusader players, you must be confusing me with someone else.
I have critized Razor for picking players he knows occasionally?
I said I'm not surprised because of his style, he's more a grinder player like Cane, not going to show up on peoples radar until you see how bad the other choices are. This year players like Clarke have been on fire and just show a bit more.
Are you one of those posters continually taking it easy on Razor because he doesn't have his Crusaders stars available? Do you think the rugby world is going to up to him suddenly once Mo'unga returns? lol
Go to commentsJohn you have been beating this drum for a couple of years, if you get proven right get back to us.
The last recent and decent Aussie coach was Ewen McKenzie, he was undermined and forced out by a couple of slimy Aussie players who were given a free pass when they should have been disciplined.
So our history since McQueen is very checkered and it seems to make little difference whether we have an Aussie coach or a Kiwi coach. The players have been entitled for a long time and we had to hit bottom to get them back into reality and to stop thinking it is all about them.
Cheika was an OK coach but his 'go our and destroy the opposition' tactic worked for a while and then didn't.
Please give me a list of great Aussie coaches that I have missed.
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