Highlanders v Reds: Teams
The Highlanders have made a single alteration to the starting line-up that beat the Bulls.
Last Updated: 09/04/09 10:07am
The Highlanders have made a single alteration to the starting line-up that beat the Bulls for their Super 14 clash with the Reds at Invercargill on Saturday.
After sitting out the match against the Bulls, Josh Bekhuis has been given a start in his hometown by coach Glenn Moore.
He will replace Manawatu lock Hayden Triggs, who got the chance to impress friends and family at Palmerston North two weeks ago, in a 32-12 win which ended the South African side's unbeaten run.
After two impressive wins on the trot, Moore has left his backline intact with scrum-half Jimmy Cowen continuing his role as captain.
Kendrick Lynn holds on to the number eleven jersey and dynamic winger Fetu'u Vainikolo once again warms the bench.
The Reds have been dealt a sever blow ahead of Saturday's match with news that scrum-half Ben Lucas has been ruled out with a rib injury.
Lucas was not part of the Reds party travelling to New Zealand on Thursday after being forced to withdraw due to a lingering rib cartilage injury sustained last month.
Reds coach Phil Mooney had Lucas as his starting scrum-half on Wednesday despite having to be replaced with sore ribs in the losses to the Chiefs and Western Force.
Mooney said Lucas may need a long lay-off to recover as the injury has not been improving.
In the absence of the suspended Will Genia, who was banned for three matches for a dangerous tackle against the Sharks last month, Brendan McKibbin is set for his first start in Super rugby.
Australian U20 scrum-half and sevens player Richard Kingi is set to make his debut off the bench.
"Brendan's service has been good, he's an excellent goalkicker and he's done the job over the last two weeks off the bench," Mooney said, before praising Lucas's courage.
"He's been playing under duress, it's just the fact the injury's not getting better.
"He's gone above and beyond the call in playing with that."
Genia is due back for the Reds next match against the Lions at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday week and is likely to slot straight back into the starting role.
Kingi is the leading points scorer in the current IRB World Series Sevens.
Highlanders: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Jason Shoemark, 12 Daniel Bowden, 11 Kendrick Lynn, 10 Mathew Berquist, 9 Jimmy Cowan (c), 8 George Naoupu, 7 Alando Soakai, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Clint Newland, 2 David Hall, 1Jamie Mackintosh.
Replacements: 16 Jason Rutledge, 17 Chris King, 18 Hayden Triggs, 19 Steven Setephano, 20 Sean Romans, 21 Johnny Leota, 22 Fetu'u Vainikolo.
Queensland Reds (revised): 15 Mark McLinden, 14 Peter Hynes, 13 Digby Ioane, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Brando Va'aulu, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Brendan McKibbin, 8 Ezra Taylor, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 James Horwill (c), 4 Hugh McMeniman, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 Sean Hardman, 1 Greg Holmes.
Replacements: 16 Saia Faingaa, 17 Jack Kennedy, 18 Adam Byrnes, 19 Leroy Houston, 20 Richard Kingi , 21 Charlie Fetoai, 22 Luke Morahan.