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Ben Smith returns for Highlanders ahead of quarter-final clash
Highlanders legend Ben Smith will get to play at least one more match for his beloved franchise before departing to Pau at the end of the year.
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The 33-year-old fullback has been named to start for the Dunedin side in their biggest fixture of the year, an away quarter-final clash against the Crusaders in Christchurch.
It’s a timely return for Smith, who many thought had played the last of his 152 games for the Highlanders after he hobbled from the field with a hamstring strain after landing awkwardly in the tackle of Luke Jacobson during his side’s 31-all draw with the Chiefs at Forsyth Barr Stadium last month.
Smith was ruled out of action for six weeks, meaning he was always expected to be available to play in the post-season, but whether the Highlanders would actually qualify for the play-offs is another story.
Languishing in 11th spot heading into the final round, the Highlanders needed to beat the Waratahs with a bonus point in Invercargill, and then needed other results to fall in their favour in order to stay alive in the competition.
Thrashing the New South Wales side 49-12 at Rugby Park meant that Aaron Mauger’s side did their part, but the Chiefs’ 59-8 walloping of the Rebels in Melbourne put the Highlanders’ play-off aspirations in jeopardy.
However, the Bulls came to the Dunedinites’ rescue, denying the Lions a bonus point in their 48-27 win in Pretoria, enough to secure the Highlanders with an eighth place finish, allowing Smith to finish his Super Rugby career in the post-season.
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The return of Smith in place of talented youngster Josh McKay is one of three changes to the starting lineup from the side that pumped the Waratahs last week.
Daniel Lienert-Brown comes in at loosehead prop in place of rookie Ayden Johnstone, who is demoted to the bench, while promising midfielder Sio Tomkinson replaces Tevita Li on the left wing.
No further changes have been made on the bench, meaning this is arguably the strongest side the Highlanders have fielded all season, with no recent injury concerns or All Black rest weeks influencing the selection process, although Tevita Nabura, Richard Buckman and Bryn Gatland weren’t available due to season-ending injuries sustained earlier in the campaign.
The Crusaders will name their side on Wednesday afternoon.
Highlanders team to play Crusaders: 1. Daniel Lienert-Brown, 2. Liam Coltman, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 4. Jackson Hemopo, 5. Tom Franklin, 6. Liam Squire, 7. James Lentjes, 8. Luke Whitelock (c0-captain), 9. Aaron Smith, 10. Josh Ioane, 11. Sio Tomkinson, 12. Tei Walden, 13. Rob Thompson, 14. Waisake Naholo, 15. Ben Smith (co-captain).
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Reserves: 16. Ash Dixon, 17. Ayden Johnstone, 18. Siate Tokolahi, 19. Josh Dickson, 20. Shannon Frizell, 21. Kayne Hammington, 22. Marty Banks, 23. Elliot Dixon.
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments