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Denny Solomona named on Highlanders bench for Crusaders clash
Former England wing Denny Solomona has been named to make his Highlanders debut from the bench in their South Island derby match against the Crusaders in Christchurch on Friday.
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Solomona has joined the Highlanders as an injury replacement player after relocating back to New Zealand, his nation of birth, in a bid to play Super Rugby, as well as to be closer to family after many years abroad.
It hasn’t taken long for the five-test international to make his mark at the Dunedin-based Super Rugby Pacific franchise, with assistant coach Riki Flutey singing his praises on Tuesday.
It seems that impression extends to the wider coaching group, with head coach Tony Brown injecting Solomona, whose five tests for England came against Los Pumas and the Springboks between 2017 and 2018, straight into his match day squad.
The former Sale Sharks speedster, who scored 46 tries in 88 matches for the Premiership club and also represented Samoa in rugby league, takes the place of Freedom Vahaakolo in the No 23 jersey following the Highlanders’ loss to the Blues on Saturday.
Solomona’s addition to the bench is one of numerous changes made to the match day team as the Highlanders continue their search for a first-up win this season.
Former Crusaders hooker Andrew Makalio will make his first start for the franchise against his former side at Orangetheory Stadium, forming one part of a new-look front row that also features Josh Hohneck in place of Jermaine Ainsley.
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Ainsley, the former Wallabies tighthead prop, drops to the bench, where he is joined by four-test All Blacks loosehead prop Ethan de Groot, who was absent from last weekend’s match against the Blues.
Former All Blacks lock Bryn Evans also returns to the team, pairing up with Josh Dickson in the second row in place of Manaaki Selby-Rickit, who also drops to the bench.
The only change in the loose forward trio comes at No 8, where Marino Mikaele-Tu’u will start for the first time in three weeks, leaving one-test All Black Gareth Evans to make his 50th Highlanders appearance from the pine.
Minimal changes have been made to the backline, with the only alteration in personnel coming in the outside backs, where Ngatungane Punivai makes way for the return of Connor Garden-Bachop.
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The youngster’s selection at fullback forces the in-form Sam Gilbert onto the right wing, while there remains no sighting of barnstorming midfielder Thomas Umaga-Jensen as he continues his return from injury.
Elsewhere, veteran hooker Rhys Marshall fills the void left by Makalio in the reserves, with All Blacks rake Liam Coltman nowhere to be seen, while cult hero first-five Marty Banks will play his 50th Super Rugby match from the bench.
Highlanders head coach Tony Brown called on his side to continue the progressions they made against the Blues when they butt heads with their local rivals in Christchurch this weekend.
“I think we saw some signs of growth in our game last week but we are going to have to be better again to take on the reigning champs in their own backyard,” Brown said in a statement.
“It will no doubt be a physical encounter, as all South Island derby games seem to be and of course we are looking forward to the challenge.”
Kick-off for Friday’s match is scheduled for 7:05pm.
Highlanders team to play the Crusaders
1. Daniel Lienert-Brown
2. Andrew Makalio
3. Josh Hohneck
4. Bryn Evans
5. Josh Dickson
6. Shannon Frizell
7. James Lentjes
8. Marino Mikaele-Tu’u
9. Aaron Smith (c)
10. Mitch Hunt
11. Mosese Dawai
12. Scott Gregory
13. Fetuli Paea
14. Sam Gilbert
15. Connor Garden-Bachop
Reserves
16. Rhys Marshall
17. Ethan de Groot
18. Jermaine Ainsley
19. Manaaki Selby-Rickit
20. Gareth Evans
21. Folau Fakatava
22. Marty Banks
23. Denny Solomona
Comments on RugbyPass
No Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
5 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar 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.
11 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.
54 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.
5 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
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 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
54 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.
54 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.
18 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.
18 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.
54 Go to comments