Saturday 13 June, 7:05pm at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Referee: Paul Williams
Played: 33
Won: Highlanders 14, Chiefs 18
Last match: 31-31 draw on 4 May 2019
Tickets: bit.ly/3hb6SHu
TV: Live on Sky Sport 1
The Highlanders have named two debutants for Saturday’s clash, with Canterbury winger Sam Gilbert to start on the right flank and All Blacks Sevens playmaker Vilimoni Koroi named on the bench. Koroi wasn’t meant to feature for the Highlanders this season, but given the postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, he’s rejoined the squad in Dunedin.
Head coach Aaron Mauger has named Josh Ioane to start at 10, with Mitch Hunt at fullback.
Chiefs head coach Warren Gatland has surprised many by naming Kaleb Trask to start at 10, with experienced pivot Aaron Cruden providing cover off the bench. Taranaki flanker Lachlan Boshier will play his 50th game for the Chiefs, while lock Tupou Vaa’i will start on debut. They welcome back All Blacks prop Nepo Laulala and flanker Luke Jacobson who will start on the blindside.
STAT CHAT (Opta)
- The Chiefs have lost only one of their last five Super Rugby games against the Highlanders, however their last encounter ended in a 31-31 draw.
THE SCOOP
Chiefs coach Warren Gatland has backed up his decision to use former All Black Aaron Cruden off the bench in Dunedin. He said Cruden is 100% fit, but Trask has been training the whole time since they have been back, while Cruden was being managed. He only really took part in full training at the end of last week. It could be another masterstroke by Gatland, who used this same tactic earlier in the season when Cruden came off the pine against the Blues and helped them to come from behind and steal victory. The Highlanders, however, have put an end to their Josh Ioane experiment at 12 and have named him to start in his preferred pivot role.
Aaron Mauger has put the onus on his forwards to step up in this competition and make amends to their slow start earlier this year. They’ve called upon 2.04m and 119kg lock Pari Pari Parkinson to join Josh Dickson in the second row. Skipper Ash Dixon said they’ve given Parkinson a bit more structure around his life and game and he’s now got more belief in himself. The Highlanders want to put to bed their slow start to the season and put on a show for their huge crowd in Dunedin as they put rugby back on the world ma, post Covid-19 lockdown.
TEAMS
HIGHLANDERS: 1. Ayden Johnstone 2. Ash Dixon © 3. Siate Tokolahi 4. Paripari Parkinson 5. Josh Dickson 6. Shannon Frizell 7. Dillon Hunt 8. Marino Mikaele Tu’u 9. Aaron Smith 10. Josh Ioane 11. Jona Nareki 12. Patelesio Tomkinson 13. Rob Thompson 14. Sam Gilbert* 15. Mitch Hunt
RESERVES: 16. Liam Coltman 17. Daniel Lienert-Brown 18. Jeff Thwaites 19. Manaaki Selby-Rickit 20. Teariki Ben-Nicholas 21. Kayne Hammington 22. Teihorangi Walden 23. Vilimoni Koroi*
*Highlanders debut
CHIEFS: 1. Aidan Ross 2. Samisoni Taukei’aho 3. Nepo Laulala 4. Mitchell Brown 5. Tupou Vaa’i* 6. Luke Jacobson 7. Lachlan Boshier 8. Pita Gus Sowakula 9. Brad Weber 10. Kaleb Trask 11. Sean Wainui 12. Anton Lienert-Brown 13. Quinn Tupaea 14. Shaun Stevenson 15. Damian McKenzie
RESERVES: 16. Bradley Slater 17. Ryan Coxon 18. Ross Geldenhuys 19. Naitoa Ah Kuoi 20. Dylan Nel 21. Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi 22. Aaron Cruden 23. Etene Nanai-Seturo
*Chiefs debut