50 up for Reddish

Editor

Highlanders lock Mark Reddish will play his 50th Super Rugby game when the champions face the Kings in Port Elizabeth on Saturday. 

The former Hurricanes player will start in the second row against the Kings and will be playing his 19th match for the Highlanders. 

Playing their first match for the Highlanders will be the two scrum-halves Te Aihe Toma and Jamie Booth. Toma will start the game and Booth is expected to make his debut from the bench.

Mobile loose forward Gareth Evans will start at blindside flanker and he will be accompanied in the loose by captain Shane Christie and Luke Whitelock. 

Liam Squire who debuted successfully for the All Blacks in Dunedin last week is on the bench, as Highlanders coach Joseph stays with the forward group that played well against the Crusaders in a warm up game during the June break.

Ryan Tongia gets his second start of the 2016 season at left wing while Jack Wilson and Matt Faddes complete the back three. Patrick Osborne who has just returned from his international duties with Fiji will make his impact from the reserves. 

The halves combination of Te Aihe Toma and Marty Banks will have the responsibility of driving the team around the field in just their second game together, however Lima Sopoaga will provide excellent back-up from the bench.

Highlanders: 15 Matt Faddes, 14 Jack Wilson, 13 Jason Emery, 12 Rob Thompson, 11 Ryan Tongia, 10 Marty Banks, 9 Te Aihe Toma, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 Shane Christie (c), 6 Gareth Evans, 5 Tom Franklin, 4 Mark Reddish, 3 Josh Hohneck, 2 Ash Dixon, 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown 
Replacements: 16 Greg Pleasants-Tate, 17 Aki Seiuli, 18 Siosuia Halanukonuka, 19 Liam Squire, 20 Dan Pryor, 21 Jamie Booth, 22 Lima Sopoaga, 23 Patrick Osborne

Date: Saturday, July 2
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Kick-off: 19:20 local (17:20 GMT)
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Jaco van Heerden (South Africa), Rodney Boneparte (South Africa)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)