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Highlanders welcome back Aaron Smith for Chiefs clash
By Finn Morton
All Blacks halfback Aaron Smith is set to make his Super Rugby Pacific season debut on Friday as the Highlanders look to get their campaign back on track against the Chiefs.
After starting their season with emphatic losses against last year’s finalists the Blues and Crusaders, the Highlanders have made 11 changes to their starting XV for round three.
Among the changes, champion scrum-half Aaron Smith has been named to start in the No. 9 jersey after missing the opening two rounds of the season.
Fellow New Zealand internationals Ethan de Groot and Shannon Frizell have also been named in the starting side to take on the ladder-leading Chiefs in Hamilton.
The Highlanders had made nine changes to their starting side to take on the Crusaders in Super Round, and have been forced to make plenty more ahead of their next clash.
An injury crisis continues to hamper the squad, with Jonah Lowe and Sam Gilbert joining the already extensive list after last weekend’s match in Melbourne.
Only four players have retained their spots in the starting XV, including prop Jermaine Ainsley and Pari-Pari Parkinson.
Flanker James Lentjes will captain the side at FMG Stadium as Billy Harmon observes his All Blacks break.
As for the backline, flyhalf Mitch Hunt will partner Aaron Smith in the halves after returning to the starting XV. Hunt had been relegated to the bench for the Highlanders’ Super Round clash.
Following their standout displays against the Crusaders, midfielders Thomas Umaga-Jensen and Josh Timu are the only backs to have held their spots in the side.
Former England international Freddie Burns will move from flyhalf to fullback, having been named to start in the No. 15 jumper.
After losing to the Crusaders 52-15 on Saturday, captain Billy Harmon told reporters that the team wouldn’t be getting “too disheartened” about the result.
“It’s only round two we’re not going to get too disheartened,” Harmon said.
“We just still want to keep growing, keep (getting) better. The funny thing is I felt like we did get better in our attack and our D.
“Obviously with that scoreline we weren’t quite accurate and a team like the Crusaders, they can pounce on any opportunity and turn that into points.”
The highly anticipated New Zealand blockbuster will kick-off round three at Hamilton’s FMG Stadium at 7:05pm NZT on Friday.
Highlanders team to take on the Chiefs
- Ethan de Groot
- Rhys Marshall
- Jermaine Ainsley
- Pari-Pari Parkinson
- Josh Dickson
- Shannon Frizell
- James Lentjes (c)
- Hugh Renton
- Aaron Smith
- Mitch Hunt
- Mosese Dawai
- Thomas Umaga-Jensen
- Josh Timu
- Martin Bogado
- Freddie Burns
Replacements:
- Leni Apisai
- Ayden Johnstone
- Saula Mau
- Fabian Holland
- Sean Withy
- Kemara Hauiti-Parapara
- Fetuli Paea
- Connor Garden-Bachop
Not available due to injury: Marty Banks (groin), Sam Gilbert (shoulder), Scott Gregory (knee), Vili Koroi (knee), Jonah Lowe (concussion), Marino Mikaele-Tu’u (ribs), Jona Nareki (foot), Jeff Thwaites (back), Will Tucker (groin)
- Press release/Highlanders
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Latest Comments
No he's just limited in what he can do. Like Scott Robertson. And Eddie Jones.
Sometimes it doesn't work out so you have to go looking for another national coach who supports his country and believes in what he is doing. Like NZ replacing Ian Foster. And South Africa bringing Erasmus back in to over see Neinbar.
This is the real world. Not the fantasy oh you don't need passion for your country for international rugby. Ask a kiwi, or a south african or a frenchman.
Go to commentsDont complain too much or start jumping to conclusions.
Here in NZ commentators have been blabbing that our bottom pathway competition the NPC (provincial teams only like Taranaki, Wellington etc)is not fit for purpose ie supplying players to Super rugby level then they started blabbing that our Super Rugby comp (combined provincial unions making up, Crusaders, Hurricanes, etc) wasn't good enough without the South African teams and for the style SA and the northern powers play at test level.
Here is what I reckon, Our comps are good enough for how WE want to play rugby not how Ireland, SA, England etc play. Our comps are high tempo, more rucks, mauls, running plays, kicks in play, returns, in a game than most YES alot of repetition but that builds attacking skillsets and mindsets. I don't want to see world teams all play the same they all have their own identity and style as do England (we were scared with all this kind of talk when they came here) World powerhouse for a reason, losses this year have been by the tiniest of margins and could have gone either way in alot of games. Built around forward power and blitz defence they have got a great attack Wingers are chosen for their Xfactor now not can they chase up and unders all day. Stick to your guns its not far off
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