Highlanders Ben Smith (L) and Aaron Smith (R) celebrate during the Chiefs v Highlanders Super Rugby Round 1 match at FMG Stadium. PHOTO: Michael Bradley/Getty
All Blacks rested as Highlanders seek to put down Rebels in Melbourne
Aaron Smith, Ben Smith and Luke Whitelock headline a number of absentees for the Highlanders trip to Melbourne to face the Rebels.
Highlanders Ben Smith (L) and Aaron Smith (R) celebrate during the Chiefs v Highlanders Super Rugby Round 1 match at FMG Stadium. PHOTO: Michael Bradley/Getty
A trio of All Black stars will skip the Highlanders trip across the Tasman to face the Rebels in Melbourne with the World Cup coming into thinking.
Ben Smith, Aaron Smith and Luke Whitelock will enjoy a week off while Josh Ioane, who has started both Highlanders games so far at flyhalf, will drop back to fullback and Kayne Hammington will start at flyhalf.
Bryn Gatland, the son of former All Black Warren Gatland who is currently the coach of Wales, will get his first start of the season at flyhalf.
Ash Dixon will lead the team in the absence of co-captains Whitelock and Ben Smith while Elliot Dixon will start at number 8.
The Rebels had a bye last week after pulling off an upset over the Brumbies in the opening week and they have named an unchanged backline.
Among the forwards Bard Wilkin starts in place of Richard Hardwick at flank and Sam Talakai taking up a place in the front row at the expense of Jermaine Ainsley.
Substitutes in week one Esei Ha’angana and Semisi Tupou drop out for the Rebels while Wallaby pair Reece Hodge and Adam Coleman return to fill the remaining seats on the bench.
The Highlanders will use a different second row pairing for the third game in a row as Pari Pari Parkinson is named alongside Jackson Hemopo and the same goes for the centre pairing with Thomas Umaga-Jensen partnering Teihorangi Walden in midfield.
Tevita Li drops out of the Highlanders matchday squad and Josh McKay fills the void left at left wing while Patelesio Tomkinson returns to the bench.
Rebels: 15 Dane Haylett-Petty (c), 14 Jack Maddocks, 13 Tom English, 12 Billy Meakes, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Isi Naisarani, 7 Brad Wilkin, 6 Angus Cottrell, 5 Matt Philip, 4 Luke Jones, 3 Sam Talakai, 2 Anaru Rangi, 1 Tetera Faulkner
SUBS: 16 Robbie Abel, 17 Matt Gibbon, 18 Jermaine Ainsley, 19 Adam Coleman, 20 Richard Hardwick, 21 Rob Leota, 22 Michael Ruru, 23 Reece Hodge
Highlanders: 15 Josh Ioane, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 12 Teihorangi Walden, 11 Josh McKay, 10 Bryn Gatland, 9 Kayne Hammington, 8 Elliot Dixon, 7 James Lentjes, 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Pari Pari Parkinson, 4 Jackson Hemopo, 3 Siate Tokolahi, 2 Ash Dixon (c), 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown
SUBS: 16 Ricky Jackson, 17 Ayden Johnstone, 18 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 19 Tom Franklin, 20 Marino Mikaele Tu’u, 21 Folau Fakatava, 22 Patelesio Tomkinson, 23 Marty Banks
