Pulse Energy Highlanders name team to play Brumbies

Details February 13, 2020

The Highlanders take on the in-form Brumbies at fortress Canberra on Saturday night. Head Coach, Aaron Mauger, has largely stayed with the team from the first-round loss against the Sharks making only two selection changes to the starting fifteen. Shannon Frizell swaps places with Dillon Hunt on the bench and Patelesio Tomkinson comes in on the right wing. Jesse Parete replaces an injured Paripari Parkinson which brings Jack Whetton into the match day 23 for his first game of the 2020 season. On the bench, Counties-Manukau Irish prop, Conan O’Donnell (who came into the squad for the injured Jeff Thwaites) gets an opportunity to impress this week

Mauger is aware of the challenge his team will face in the capital city, “They are a tough team to play in Canberra and have a strong home record over the last few seasons, we are expecting a physical encounter on Saturday. We took some positives out of our second half performance last week, so we now have a good opportunity to build on that this round against the Brumbies.”

Brumbies v Highlanders – 7.15pm, Saturday 15th February (9.15pm NZT) GIO Stadium, Canberra

1. Ayden Johnstone

2. Liam Coltman

3. Siate Tokolahi

4. Jesse Parete

5. Josh Dickson

6. Shannon Frizell

7. James Lentjes (C)

8. Marino Mikaele Tu’u

9. Aaron Smith

10. Mitch Hunt

11. Jona Nareki

12. Josh Ioane

13. Rob Thompson

14. Patelesio Tomkinson

15. Josh McKay

Reserves

16. Ash Dixon

17. Daniel Lienert-Brown

18. Conan O’Donnell

19. Jack Whetton

20. Dillon Hunt

21. Kayne Hammington

22. Michael Collins

23. Teariki Ben-Nicholas

Unavailable due to injury: Jeff Thwaites (foot), Tevita Nabura (back), Thomas Umaga-Jensen (shoulder), Teihorangi Walden (ribs), Ngane Punivai (knee) Paripari Parkinson (ankle)

Season ending injuries: Connor Garden-Bachop (back), Ricky Jackson (ankle)

ENDS