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Super Rugby Pacific

Highlanders name team for Chiefs as they look to keep play-off hopes alive

Connor Garden-Bachop of the Highlanders looks on after being defeated during the round nine Super Rugby Pacific match between Western Force and Highlanders at HBF Park, on April 22, 2023, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

The Highlanders have returned from their Australian road trip and are gearing up to face the table-topping Chiefs.

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Despite some unfavourable results on their trip, the Highlanders still have plenty to play for in the remaining rounds as they eye a spot in the playoffs.

Captain Billy Harmon is set to return to the forward pack after missing the Waratahs match, while lock Josh Dickson is back in the playing twenty-three.

In the backline, Sam Gilbert returns to fullback and Thomas Umaga-Jensen moves to the midfield, with Connor Garden-Bachop taking Jonah Lowe’s spot on the wing.

For his first start at first-five, Freddie Burns will take over from Mitch Hunt. The experienced Burns boasts a strong kicking game and showcased his running abilities against the Force.

With 300 first-class games under his belt, he’s no stranger to the pressure of a big home game.

Coach Clarke Dermody is relieved to be back home after a challenging few games on the road.

“We didn’t get the results we wanted in our last two away games, so we’re thrilled to be back at home this week with our fate still in our own hands.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for our players to bring their A-game against the competition frontrunners.

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“We’ve had some nail-biting clashes with the Chiefs in the past, so we’ll be putting in the hard yards to give our home fans something to cheer about on Friday night.”

Highlanders team to face Chiefs:

1. Ethan de Groot
2. Andrew Makalio
3. Jermaine Ainsley
4. Fabian Holland
5. Will Tucker
6. Shannon Frizell
7. Billy Harmon (c)
8. Hugh Renton
9. Aaron Smith
10. Freddie Burns
11. Scott Gregory
12. Thomas Umaga-Jensen
13. Fetuli Paea
14. Connor Garden-Bachop
15. Sam Gilbert

Reserves: 16. Rhys Marshall 17. Daniel Lienert-Brown 18. Saula Ma’u 19. Josh Dickson 20. Sean Withy 21. Folau Fakatava 22. Mitch Hunt 23. Jona Nareki

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Not Available due to injury: Vili Koroi (knee) Marty Banks (groin) Jeff Thwaites (back) Josh Timu (leg) Jake Te Hiwi (ankle) Cameron Millar (ankle)

 

 

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Comments on RugbyPass

J
Jen 14 minutes ago
Six Wallabies abroad who must come into the reckoning in 2026

HAH. I’m not sure but certainly worth some digging, just in case. 😆

10 Go to comments
J
JW 22 minutes ago
Six Wallabies abroad who must come into the reckoning in 2026

One of our Lomax relatives Jen? Eligible for the All Blacks? :D

10 Go to comments
E
ED 38 minutes ago
Leinster vs Ulster | Ulster vs Leinster | United Rugby Championship Live

12-17….waiting for Ryans card……Yellow oof

1 Go to comments
H
Hellhound 1 hour ago
Top 100 Men's Rugby Players 2025 | Best Rugby Player in the World | RugbyPass

That is a scary looking team yes

100 Go to comments
H
Hellhound 1 hour ago
Pat Lam blasts 'archaic' process that lost the All Blacks Tony Brown

Now you are just being a woke, jealous fool. With the way things are run in NZ, no wonder he couldn't make a success there. Now that he is out shining any other New Zealanders, including their star players, now he is bitter and resentful and all sorts of hate speeches against him. That is what the fans like you do. Those in NZ who does have enough sense not to let pride cloud their vision, is all saying the same thing. NZ needs TB. Razor was made out to be a rugby coaching God by the fans, so much so that Foz was treated like the worst piece of shitte. Especially after the Twickenham disaster right before the WC. Ad then he nearly won the WC too with 14 players. As a Saffa the way he handled the media and the pressure leading up to the WC, was just extraordinary and I have gained a lot of respect for that man. Now your so called rugby coaching God managed to lose by an even bigger margin, IN NZ. All Razor does is overplay his players and he will never get the best out of those players, and let's face it, the current crop is good enough to be the best. However, they need an coach they can believe in completely. I don't think the players have bought into his coaching gig. TB was lucky to shake the dust of his boots when he left NZ, because only when he did that, did his career go from strength to strength. He got a WC medal to his name. Might get another if the Boks can keep up the good work. New exciting young talent is set to join soon after the WC as dangerous as SFM and Kolbe. Trust me, he doesn't want the AB's job. He is very happy in SA with the Boks. We score, you lose a great coach. We know quality when we see it, we don't chuck it in the bin like NZRU likes to do. Your coaching God is hanging on by a thread to keep his job🤣🤣🤣🤣

38 Go to comments
J
Jen 1 hour ago
Six Wallabies abroad who must come into the reckoning in 2026

I think he means Zac Lomax, an NRL winger, who is reported to be looking to switch codes.

10 Go to comments
c
cw 1 hour ago
Six favours the All Blacks need from Santa's little helpers

Simplify. Stop trying to be the smartest in the room. That’s been taken.

Play to our strengths. Simple direct ball in hand rugby at speed.



...

11 Go to comments
K
Kashmir Pete 1 hour ago
Six Wallabies abroad who must come into the reckoning in 2026

Great article John,

Appreciate optimism you provide. Will be delighted if Wallabies simply make semis of our home WRC, and what your article brings for me, is that is very much doable.



...

10 Go to comments
H
Hammer Head 1 hour ago
Pat Lam blasts 'archaic' process that lost the All Blacks Tony Brown

Tony Brown is better off at the Boks. And in the long run, if NZ Rugby can get their house in order enough for their to be good enough reason for him getting into the AB setup, the ABs will better for it.

The last four years and next two years buggering around in the wilderness with NZRU would be a waste of his talents and valuable career years and experience actually achieving results.



...

38 Go to comments
H
Hellhound 2 hours ago
Pat Lam blasts 'archaic' process that lost the All Blacks Tony Brown

Tony is already revered by the SA fans. His influence is as integral as Rassie’s in the team. He may be from NZ, but his blood is green. Long may he stay with the Boks, and with Rassie signing to 2031, it's more than likely that Tony will also resign when his contract is up. What coach wouldn't? The talent he get to work with, the coaching setup that is shared and not a dictatorship, the freedom to express himself. He got everything he wants. I can't see him leaving the Bok setup soon.

38 Go to comments
S
SB 2 hours ago
Six favours the All Blacks need from Santa's little helpers

Only by ranking. Don’t forget a lot of work was done prior to Razor taking over for them to be there now. It’s highly debatable that the All Blacks are the second best side in the world at the moment, particularly with the way they were turned over by England.

11 Go to comments
J
JW 2 hours ago
Six Wallabies abroad who must come into the reckoning in 2026

He’s back in Super isn’t he?

10 Go to comments
J
JW 2 hours ago
Six Wallabies abroad who must come into the reckoning in 2026

What’s this?

10 Go to comments
S
SB 2 hours ago
High-flying Stormers suffer Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu injury blow

Perhaps he was having too much fun.

1 Go to comments
J
JW 2 hours ago
Six Wallabies abroad who must come into the reckoning in 2026



That is a list with serious experience and rich form that is missing from this crew, who will undertake the cathartic task of reviewing what was ultimately a disappointing 2025 season ahead of the inaugural Nations Championship Cup games in July.

You hope at least that next year (World Cup year) overseas Wallaby players will be interested enough to tell their clubs they are attending camp.



...

10 Go to comments
J
JW 2 hours ago
Springboks rule the skies as access law leads to more kicking

Well, a couple of things. NZRU is not an entity this topic relates to, and the only national team I notice a problem with attackers “getting upto speed” is the All Blacks, I’d think every other team doesn’t have so much of a problem. That is also reflected at the level below.

So while I think the change would be good for a country like New Zealand, and those consequences you list aren’t favorable, no, I don’t think you interpretation makes more sense than mine.



...

36 Go to comments
H
Hellhound 2 hours ago
Pat Lam blasts 'archaic' process that lost the All Blacks Tony Brown

That doesn't sound bitter. Go and watch that episode. The truth always hurt. He is saying what others are too scared to. How many times on this same forum have NZ fans complained about exactly that? Numerous times. You are right, the way they handled Foz, there couldn't be any other outcome, but then, the NZRU have proven time and time again that they are useless

38 Go to comments
J
JW 2 hours ago
Pat Lam blasts 'archaic' process that lost the All Blacks Tony Brown

What are you talking about HH? Do you think I should be more critical of Pat Lam not being across the situation instead of making light excuses for him?

Personally I don’t blame him for not being aware of the facts given the current media, so thats going to be the tone I take reporting on it.



...

38 Go to comments
A
Andrew Nichols 2 hours ago
Whitney Hansen: 'The biggest thing I learned' from iconic mentors

Now the first thing you have to do us to go find big women instead of tiddlers the size of Brad Webber to build a forward pack that will own imternational womens rugby..not just Australia. 15s is not 7s with extra players.

1 Go to comments
H
Hellhound 2 hours ago
Pat Lam blasts 'archaic' process that lost the All Blacks Tony Brown

You have NEVER been involved with NZRU, yet you claim to know better than those who were and knows galaxies more than you. Maybe you should be the one to shut up.

38 Go to comments
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