Waisake Naholo to make Highlanders return
By Reuters
Last Updated: 05/05/16 12:16pm
New Zealand wing Waisake Naholo will make his return after more than two months out with a broken leg when the Highlanders face the Chiefs on Saturday, live on Sky Sports 2 HD.
Naholo broke his right leg in the Super Rugby champions' opening round loss to the Blues on February 26.
The 24-year-old broke the same leg last year, which had threatened to scupper his World Cup chances, though he sought traditional treatment in his native Fiji and made Steve Hansen's squad for the tournament in England.
"He'll be all go," said Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph. "It has increased the morale of our team, having one of our All Blacks back to play. You only have to watch his game to see what he can bring to a team.
"What he did last year was set the competition alight. We certainly don't expect that for a few games.
"I think he's like every player, we just expect them to do their own job. Everyone's got a role to do and if he does that well, that's all we're expecting."
Naholo, who played club rugby in Dunedin last week and scored three tries, will replace Jack Wilson on the right wing for the match at Waikato Stadium.
Inside centre Rob Thompson has been ruled out with concussion, with utility back Matt Faddes, who has played wing and full-back this season, moving to centre.
All Blacks centre Malakai Fekitoa, who outshone Wallabies counterpart Tevita Kuridrani in Canberra last week in the victory over the Brumbies, will wear the No 12 jersey.
The Chiefs make two changes to the team that beat the Sharks last weekend, the influential Charlie Ngatai and wing James Lowe both returning from injury.
Chiefs: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Toni Pulu, 13 Seta Tamanivalu, 12 Charlie Ngatai, 11 James Lowe, 10 Aaron Cruden (co-captain), 9 Brad Weber; 1 Mitchell Graham, 2 Hika Elliot, 3 Hiroshi Yamashita, 4 Dominic Bird, 5 Brodie Retallick, 6 Taleni Seu, 7 Sam Cane (co-captain), 8 Michael Leitch.
Replacements: 16 Nathan Harris, 17 Siate Tokolahi, 18 Kane Hames, 19 Michael Allardice, 20 Maama Vaipulu, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Sam Vaka.
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith (c), 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Matt Faddes, 12 Malakai Fekitoa, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith; 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 2 Ash Dixon, 3 Josh Hohneck, 4 Alex Ainley, 5 Tom Franklin, 6 Elliot Dixon, 7 Dan Pryor, 8 Luke Whitelock.
Replacements: 16 Greg Pleasants-Tate, 17 Aki Seiuli, 18 Siosiua Halanukonuka, 19 James Lentjes, 20 Gareth Evans, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Marty Banks, 23 Teihorangi Walden.
Watch Chiefs v Highlanders live on Sky Sports 2 HD on Saturday from 8.30am. Catch all of Saturday's Super Rugby and PRO12 action for £6.99 with a NOW TV day pass.