Highlanders v Waratahs: Teams
Highlanders ace Colin Slade will make his first start of the season at full-back for the visit of the Waratahs on Saturday.
Last Updated: 09/03/12 7:08am
Highlanders ace Colin Slade will make his first start of the season at full-back for the visit of the Waratahs on Saturday.
The All Blacks fly-half replaces Ben Smith, with Lima Sopoaga retaining the No.10 shirt.
Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph has also made a change on the wing, with Kade Poki coming in for Buxton Popoali'i.
The Waratahs have been forced to rejig their line-up on the eve of the clash in Dunedin after Wycliff Palu was ruled out.
Palu had been due to start at No.8 but he suffered a hamstring injury in his team's final training run at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Tevita Metuisela, who has flown in to New Zealand, will replace Palu with Lopeti Timani named on the bench after having missed the past week of training due to visa issues.
Berrick Barnes, though, will return to the starting line-up at inside centre after recovering from a groin problem.
Pat McCutcheon also returns to the starting line-up in place of Chris Alcock.
Highlanders: 15 Colin Slade, 14 Kade Poki, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Phil Burleigh, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 John Hardie, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Nick Croswell, 4 Josh Berkhuis, 3 Chris King, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Jamie Mackintosh (c).
Replacements: 16 Jason Rutledge, 17 Bronson Murray, 18 Culum Retallick, 19 James Haskell, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Kurt Baker, 23 Buxton Popoali'i.
Waratahs: 15 Bernard Foley, 14 Tom Kingston, 13 Rob Horne, 12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 10 Daniel Halangahu (c), 9 Sarel Pretorius; 8 Tevita Metuisela, 7 Pat McCutcheon, 6 Dave Dennis, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.
Replacements: 16 John Ulugia, 17 Paddy Ryan, 18 Lopeti Timani, 19 Jono Jenkins, 20 Brendan McKibbin, 21 Tom Carter, 22 Brackin Karuaria-Henry.
