Highlanders v Hurricanes: Teams
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph has decided to rest his skipper Jamie Mackintosh for Saturday's clash with the Hurricanes.
Last Updated: 11/05/12 10:29am
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph has decided to rest his skipper Jamie Mackintosh for Saturday's clash with the Hurricanes.
All Blacks hooker Andrew Hore will lead the team in Mackintosh's absence, while loosehead prop Chris King replaces the Highlanders skipper in the front row.
There are two other changes to the starting line-up that lost to the Sharks last week.
Flank Nick Croswell replaces the injured Doug Tietjens (knee) in the loose trio, while inside centre Phil Burleigh slots in for Shaun Treeby, who broke his cheekbone in Durban.
South African-born prop Reggie Goodes will start his first match for the Hurricanes after making his debut for the New Zealand franchise two weeks ago from the bench.
Goodes was facing the prospect of six months on the sidelines after he had torn the ligament off his left shoulder in a pre-season match against the Chiefs.
His efforts spending 10 weeks of intensive rehab and strengthening the shoulder have certainly impressed coach Mark Hammett.
"He did very well pre-season and to be quite frank when he got that injury he was number one. He probably would have got the first start," Hammett said.
"But he didn't. He got the injury and he's worked really hard to get back.
"We know what a good player he is, not just in his core roles with lifting and scrummaging, but he has a great ability to steal the ball at the breakdown and clean out and he's a very good ball carrier."
The only other changes to the Hurricanes line-up are Charlie Ngatai bracketed with Tim Bateman at inside centre and Tusi Pisi bracketed with Daniel Kirkpatrick on the bench.
Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Siale Piutau, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Phil Burleigh, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Mike Delany, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Adam Thomson, 6 Nick Crosswell, 5 Jarrad Hoeata, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Ma'afu Fia, 2 Andrew Hore (c), 1 Chris King.
Replacements: 16 Jason Rutledge, 17 Bronson Murray, 18 Culum Retallick, 19 Tim Boys, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Chris Noakes, 22 Kendrick Lynn.
Hurricanes: 15 Andre Taylor, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Conrad Smith (c), 12 Charlie Ngatai/Tim Bateman, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Victor Vito, 7 Karl Lowe, 6 Faifili Levave, 5 Jason Eaton, 4 Jeremy Thrush, 3 Ben May, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Reggie Goodes.
Replacements: 16 Motu Matu'u, 17 Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, 18 Brad Shields, 19 Jack Lam, 20 Chris Eaton, 21 Tusi Pisi/Daniel Kirkpatrick, Bateman/Alapati Leiua.
