Pulse Energy Highlanders named to play Chiefs at Home

Details May 2, 2019

No changes to the forward pack and the return of Ben Smith to fullback are the main features of the Pulse Energy Highlanders team to play the Chiefs under the roof in Dunedin on Saturday night.

The pack have been rewarded for a dominant effort against the Sunwolves and some consistent form. Co-captain, Luke Whitelock, will again play at blindside combining with Elliot Dixon and James Lentjes in a well performing backrow. In the backs, Patelesio Tomkinson, moves to the reserves and Matt Faddes to the right wing to accommodate the return of Ben Smith at fullback.

Head Coach, Aaron Mauger, is anticipating another tough encounter, “typically your NZ conference games are fiercely contested, that was certainly the case earlier in the season against the Chiefs, so we are expecting nothing less from this game”.

Pulse Energy Highlanders v Chiefs – 7.35pm, Saturday 4th May, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

Daniel Lienert-Brown Liam Coltman Tyrel Lomax Jackson Hemopo Tom Franklin Luke Whitelock (cc) James Lentjes Elliot Dixon Aaron Smith Josh Ioane 11 Tevita Li Teihorangi Walden Rob Thompson Matt Faddes Ben Smith (cc)

RESERVES

Ash Dixon Ayden Johnstone Siate Tokolahi Josh Dickson Shannon Frizell Kayne Hammington Josh McKay Patelesio Tomkinson

Unavailable due to injury: Liam Squire (knee), Waisake Naholo (knee), Marty Banks (foot)

Season ending injuries: Tevita Nabura (knee), Richard Buckman (achilles), Bryn Gatland (foot)