Cape Town - All Blacks back-rower Elliot Dixon will play in his 100th Super
Rugby match on Saturday when the Highlanders take on the Jaguares in
Dunedin.
Kick-off is at 07:15 SA time.
After making his debut in 2012 against the Brumbies, Dixon
has featured in all positions in the back-row - most memorably, scoring
an amazing try against the Hurricanes to help the Highlanders to their
2015 title.
Highlanders head coach Aaron Mauger has been impressed with Dixon’s form this season.
“To play 100 Super Rugby games for one club is an awesome effort, the
fact that he is still demanding selection through his current form
speaks volumes for Elliot and his attitude to the game,” said Mauger.
“I’m sure the boys will want to put out an effort worthy of this milestone for him.”
Highlanders CEO Roger Clark hailed Dixon’s special achievement.
“I’ve always been an admirer of the way Elliot plays the game whether
it was for Southland, the Highlanders or the All Blacks,” he said.
“A hundred games is a mighty effort and I am sure a proud day for Elliot, his wife Paige and kids Huxley and Toby.”
The Jaguares will be keen to get their four week tour off to a
positive start while the Highlanders will want to head to South Africa
next week on a winning note after last week’s draw against the Chiefs.
There is some rotation in the Highlanders forwards with Ayden
Johnstone and Siate Tokolahi starting, while the hard-working Daniel
Lienert-Brown and Tyrel Lomax head to the bench. Josh Dickson moves into
the starting line-up and Liam Squire makes his return after a lengthy
injury break.
In the backs, Matt Faddes, moves to fullback and Jordan Hyland will
make his second appearance on the right wing. Patelesio Tomkinson will
partner Rob Thompson in the midfield as Teihorangi Walden takes a break.
Dan Hollinshead, who has joined the squad as a replacement for Bryn
Gatland, will make his debut from the bench and the talented and young,
Thomas Umaga-Jensen, rounds out the playing 23.
Teams:
Highlanders
15
Matt Faddes, 14 Jordan Hyland, 13 Rob Thompson, 12 Patelesio Tomkinson,
11 Tevita Li, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Elliot Dixon, 7 James
Lentjes, 6 Luke Whitelock (captain), 5 Tom Franklin, 4 Josh Dickson, 3
Siate Tokolahi, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Ayden Johnstone
Substitutes: 16
Ash Dixon, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Jack Whetton, 20
Liam Squire, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Daniel Hollinshead, 23 Thomas
Umaga-Jensen
Jaguares
15
Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Sebastián Cancelliere, 13 Matías Moroni, 12
Jerónimo de la Fuente (captain), 11 Ramiro Moyano, 10 Joaquín Díaz
Bonilla, 9 Felipe Ezcurra, 8 Javier Ortega Desio, 7 Tomás Lezana, 6 Juan
Manuel Leguizamón, 5 Lucas Paulos, 4 Marcos Kremer, 3 Enrique Pieretto,
2 Julián Montoya, 1 Mayco Vivas
Substitutes: 16 Agustín Creevy,
17 Juan Pablo Zeiss, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Tomás Lavanini, 20 Pablo
Matera, 21 Tomás Cubelli, 22 Domingo Miotti, 23 Matías Orlando