Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

No Aaron Smith as Highlanders name team for Hurricanes clash

(Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

Super Rugby veteran Aaron Smith will not suit up for the Highlanders on Saturday night when they take on the high-flying Hurricanes at Forsyth Barr Stadium.

ADVERTISEMENT

Smith has been ruled out of the New Zealand derby due to family reasons. In his place, All Black Folau Fakatava will start his first match in the No. 9 jersey since round one.

The Highlanders have made four changes to their starting XV ahead of their highly anticipated clash with the Hurricanes at 7:05pm NZT on Saturday.

Video Spacer

Video Spacer

Looking for their fourth straight win, the Highlanders have welcomed back some genuine star power for this clash.

Hooker Andrew Makalio has been promoted to the starting side this week, while Josh Dickson and Shannon Frizell are also set to return to the run-on XV.

Billy Harmon will lead the team from openside flanker, while the in-form Hugh Renton has held his place in the backrow.

As for the backline, the inclusion of Folau Fakatava is the only change. The All Black will partner flyhalf Mitch Hunt in the halves.

ADVERTISEMENT

Scott Gregory could potentially make his return to Super Rugby Pacific this week after being named on the bench.

Related

Coach Clarke Dermody is expecting “a great test” on Saturday, as the Highlanders prepare to take on one of the form teams of the competition so far.

“The Hurricanes are (an) in-form team who rightly sit near the top of the table,” Dermody said in a statement.

“We are under no illusions how much of a challenge they will present.

“It will be a great test of our game against a team of real quality.

ADVERTISEMENT

“We are looking forward to the opportunity, particularly at home in front of our fans.”

Highlanders team to take on Hurricanes

  1. Ethan de Groot
  2. Andrew Makalio
  3. Jermaine Ainsley
  4. Pari Pari Parkinson
  5. Josh Dickson
  6. Shannon Frizell
  7. Billy Harmon (c)
  8. Hugh Renton
  9. Folau Fakatava
  10. Mitch Hunt
  11. Jonah Lowe
  12. Thomas Umaga-Jensen
  13. Fetuli Paea
  14. Mosese Dawai
  15. Sam Gilbert

Replacements:

  1. Leni Apisai
  2. Daniel Lienert-Brown
  3. Saula Ma’u
  4. Max Hicks
  5. Sean Withy
  6. James Arscott
  7. Scott Gregory
  8. Marino Mikaele Tu’u

Not available due to injury: Vili Koroi, Marty Banks, Jona Nareki, Jeff Thwaites, Freddie Burns, Rhys Marshall, Josh Timu, Will Tucker, Jake Te Hiwi, Martin Bogado, Connor Garden-Bachop

ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

J
Joseph Herman 13 minutes ago
Les affiches des quarts de finale de Champions Cup

My university days were a whirlwind of excitement and unforgettable experiences, a time when I not only forged lifelong friendships but also met my ex-girlfriend. Our relationship blossomed over three years, during which she introduced me to the fascinating world of cryptocurrency trading. What began as a mere curiosity quickly evolved into a fervent passion, and to my surprise, I discovered I had a knack for it. I started with an initial investment of $5,500 in Bitcoin, a decision that would prove to be incredibly fortuitous as the cryptocurrency market surged. Through careful trading strategies and reinvesting my profits, I managed to amass a fortune that peaked at an impressive $310,000.The joy of my financial success was overshadowed by the unraveling of my relationship. The betrayal came when I discovered her infidelity, a painful revelation that shattered my trust. Just when I thought things couldn’t get worse, she crossed a line I never anticipated. In a shocking act of betrayal, she hacked into my email account, which was crucial for managing my cryptocurrency investments. Fortunately, I had the foresight not to store my wallet passwords there, but the situation escalated when she made off with my phone, which granted her access to several of my accounts. A wave of panic washed over me as I grasped the full extent of the damage she could inflict.Confused,I turned to my network of crypto-savvy friends on Instagram, hoping for guidance. It was during this frantic search for help that multiple people recommended GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES , a service renowned for its expertise in navigating such crises. With time slipping away and my investments hanging in the balance, I reached out to GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES , detailing my dire situation and praying for a miracle.To my immense relief, GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES worked diligently to recover my accounts and, against all odds, successfully retrieved all my cryptocurrency. Their expertise not only salvaged my investments but also restored my faith in the community. I learned a valuable lesson about trust and resilience, emerging from the experience stronger and more cautious than ever. This ordeal taught me the importance of safeguarding my digital assets and the value of having a reliable support network like GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES . This shaped my approach to both relationships and investments, reminding me to remain vigilant and discerning in all aspects of life. Thanks to GRAYWARE TECH SERVICES for recovery.You can reach them on whatsapp +18582759508, web at ( https://graywaretechservices.com/ )    also on Mail: (contact@graywaretechservices.com)

0 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Fissler Confidential: Harlequins' Italian stallion bolting to exit Fissler Confidential: Harlequins Italian stallion bolting to exit
Search