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Dunedin - All Black flanker Liam Squire has been named as a replacement in the Highlanders' match-day 23 to face the Reds in Brisbane on Saturday (kick-off 11:45 SA time).
All Blacks Ben Smith, Luke Whitelock, Shannon Frizell and Liam Coltman are however not included this week.
Waisake Naholo will start in his normal right-wing spot, while Squire returns from his round four injury to take his place on the bench.
Squire will be accompanied by Aaron Smith and Richard Buckman, who will be making his first appearance of the season. Lock, Josh Dickson and hooker, Greg Pleasants-Tate also come into the match-day 23.
An elbow injury to Elliot Dixon, sustained in last week’s game against the Waratahs, means a new-look back row. James Lentjes will play in the blindside flanker position and Marino Mikaele Tu’u earns his first run on of the season. Teihorangi Walden returns to his midfield partnership with Rob Thompson and it will be a Highlanders debut for young fullback Josh McKay.
“We have had a good training week and there is a real determination amongst the group to meet the challenge on Saturday. The Reds in Brisbane are always a difficult prospect and their performance last week demonstrates their capabilities,” said assistant coach Mark Hammett.
Teams:
Reds
15 Hamish Stewart, 14 Izaia Perese,
13 Samu Kerevi, 12 Duncan Paia’aua, 11 Jordan Petaia, 10 Jono Lance, 9
Ben Lucas, 8 Scott Higginbotham (captain), 7 George Smith, 6 Angus
Scott-Young, 5 Harry Hockings, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Brandon
Paenga-Amosa, 1 JP Smith.
Substitutes: 16 Andrew Ready, 17 Sef Fa’agase, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Kane Douglas, 20 Caleb Timu, 21 Liam Wright, 22 Moses Sorovi, 23 Aidan Toua
Highlanders
15
Josh McKay, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Rob Thompson, 12 Tei Walden, 11
Tevita Li, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Kayne Hammington, 8 Marino Mikaele Tu’u, 7
Dillon Hunt, 6 James Lentjes, 5 Tom Franklin, 4 Jackson Hemopo, 3 Tyrel
Lomax, 2 Ash Dixon (captain), 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown
Substitutes: 16 Greg Pleasants-Tate, 17 Aki Seiuli, 18 Kalolo Tuiloma, 19 Josh Dickson, 20 Liam Squire, 21 Aaron Smith, 22 Josh Ioane, 23 Richard Buckman
