Gordon Hunter was the inaugural coach of the Highlanders in 1996 when Super Rugby began and also coached the Blues in 2000 before passing from cancer in 2002. He was an All Black Selector and Coach between 1996 and 2000 and had a long history of coaching in the Otago region at club and provincial level.
Aaron Mauger has kept faith with the team that scored a last gasp victory over the Chiefs, Bryn Gatland is the only new player included in the 23 but a key positional change will see All Black first-five, Josh Ioane, get his first start of the new season in the driving seat. The well performed Mitch Hunt will move to fullback but will no doubt have some time at first receiver.
“Mitch has been outstanding for us and has really flourished with regular game time. We are truly blessed with the standard of first-fives we have in our squad and I would be confident with any of the three of them at the helm. Josh deserves his chance though as he has worked very hard to get back to full fitness and we saw some nice touches from him against the Chiefs,” said Mauger.
Michael Collins has retained the centre spot having performed well against the Chiefs in that position, “Michael has been in good form, making good decisions and we believe he can make a real impact on the game from there”.
The weekend’s game also marks the annual grassroots rugby club appreciation day, bought to you in 2020 thanks to Dunedin City Motors. Not only can junior registered Club Rugby kids come for free, this year we have extended the invitation to Club Rugby Life Members from around our region. There will be a guard of honour made up by the life members and at half time there will be one of the most hotly contested events of the year… the Junior Club Race!
Pulse Energy Highlanders v Blues – 3.35pm, Sunday 2nd August, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
1. Ayden Johnstone
2. Ash Dixon (cc)
3. Jeff Thwaites
4. Pari Pari Parkinson
5. Jack Whetton
6. Shannon Frizell
7. Dillon Hunt
8. Marino Mikaele-Tu’u
9. Aaron Smith (cc)
10. Josh Ioane
11. Scott Gregory
12. Patelesio Tomkinson
13. Michael Collins
14. Josh McKay
15. Mitch Hunt
Reserves
16. Liam Coltman
17. Ethan De Groot
18. Siate Tokolahi
19. Manaaki Selby-Rickit
20. Jesse Parete
21. Folau Fakatava
22. Bryn Gatland
23. Jona Nareki
Unavailable due to injury: Nathan Vella (concussion), Nehe Milner-Skudder (shoulder), Ngatugnane Punivai (concussion)
Season ending injuries: Sione Misiloi (foot), Thomas Umaga-Jensen (shoulder), James Lentjes (ankle),
Conor Garden-Bachop (back), Sam Gilbert (knee), Josh Dickson (leg), Kayne Hammington (hand)