After a first round bye Highlanders’ coach Jamie Joseph has named his team for the big South Island clash against the Crusaders on Saturday night in Dunedin. As with last season the team will be co-captained by Nasi Manu and Ben Smith. Joseph has selected from a near fully fit squad with just Shane Christie (hamstring), Richard Buckman (knee) and Pingi Tala’apitaga (knee) unavailable due to injury. There are 7 players set to make their Highlander debuts including Josh Hohneck, Ross Geldenhuys and Waisake Naholo in the starting lineup.

This game is set to be a thriller as the Highlanders will look to right the wrongs of 2014 after losing to the Crusaders in the dying minutes as a try in the corner was disallowed by the TMO.

Highlanders v Crusaders, Forsyth Barr, Dunedin – Saturday 21st Febraury 7.35pm (NZT)

1. Josh Hohneck

2. Liam Coltman

3. Ross Geldenhuys

4. Tom Franklin

5. Joe Wheeler

6. Elliot Dixon

7. John Hardie

8. Nasi Manu (c)

9. Aaron Smith

10. Lima Sopoaga

11. Patrick Osborne

12. Shaun Treeby

13. Malakai Fekitoa

14. Waisake Naholo

15. Ben Smith (c)

16. Ash Dixon

17. Kane Hames

18. Ma’afu Fia

19. Mark Reddish

20. Dan Pryor

21. Fumiaki Tanaka

22. Jason Emery

23. Marty Banks

Head Coach: Jamie Joseph

Assistant Coaches: Tony Brown, Scott McLeod

Team Manager: Paul McLaughlan

End