Highlanders make seven changes

Editor

Highlanders head coach, Jamie Joseph has made seven changes to his starting XV for Friday's clash with the Sharks in Dunedin.

Josh Hohneck returns to tighthead prop, lock Mark Reddish has recovered from injury to replace Joe Wheeler, who suffered a knee injury last week, and both Gareth Evans and Dan Pryor come into the back row as the starting flankes.

The Highlanders' three All Blacks, Aaron Smith, Ben Smith and Malakai Fekitoa return to the field after their one round rest and the versatile Richard Buckman moves to inside centre to cover for Shaun Treeby.

Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Richard Buckman, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Dan Pryor, 6 Gareth Evans, 5 Mark Reddish, 4 Tom Franklin, 3 Josh Hohneck, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Kane Hames.
Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Brendon Edmonds, 18 Pingi Tala’apitaga, 19 Joe Latta, 20 Elliot Dixon, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Marty Banks, 23 Jason Emery.

Date: Saturday, May 2
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Kick-off: 19:35 local (07:35 GMT, 17:35 AEST, 09:35 SAST)
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Kane McBride, Mike Lash (New Zealand)
TMO: Vinny Munro (New Zealand)