Preview: Highlanders v British and Irish Lions

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DUNEDIN, NEW ZEALAND - JUNE 12: The Lions warm up during the British & Irish Lions captain's run held at the Forsyth Barr Stadium on June 12, 2017 in Dunedin, New Zealand. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

There’s no rest for the British and Irish Lions as they put the elation of defeating the Crusaders behind them to face the Highlanders on Tuesday.

Christchurch has been swapped for Dunedin as a nearly entirely rested XV, aside from CJ Stander who came off the bench against the Crusaders, all get the nod from Warren Gatland.

Naturally with the Maori All Blacks to come this has the feel of a midweek team, albeit a competitive one, and especially when considering that a number of those players in action on Tuesday will still fancy their chances of cracking the Test side.

Among that list have to be both centres Jonathan Joseph and Robbie Henshaw, the pairing that many predicted would start in the Tests before the tour began, but who find themselves now behind Ben Te’o and Jonathan Davies.

Under the Forsyth Barr roof a player like Joseph should thrive, if the Lions backs can get on the same page. Jack Nowell meanwhile cannot play any worse than he did in the defeat to the Blues, especially given what a force he was in the Premiership final with Exeter.

Rhys Webb may struggle to displace Conor Murray but was very strong against the Blues, while CJ Stander trails Taulupe Faletau yet can force his claims with a dominant performance.

Courtney Lawes might end up being the unluckiest player not to make the Test 23 given how he has gone on tour thus far, and equally Joe Marler and Kyle Sinckler have done little wrong and impressed.

No one however needs a game more than the Lions captain. If Sam Warburton cannot prove his fitness in this game then his chances of starting in the Test series will fade dramatically. O’Brien has set the standard for the seven shirt, and Warburton needs to be dominant in Dunedin.

What can be guaranteed is that the Highlanders will give the Lions more than a decent contest. The 2015 champions will be without talismen Ben and Aaron Smith but there is more than enough talent here to push the Lions all the way.

Malakai Fekitoa has not exactly been below-par this year yet could not crack the All Blacks squad, giving him a score to settle, while Waisake Naholo’s threat is well known to those who have watched the winger rip defences to shreds over the last three years.

Lima Sopoaga’s return to full fitness and form continues, named in the All Blacks squad and eager to leapfrog Aaron Cruden, which now may happen following Cruden’s injury setback.

But the secret to the Highlanders’ success has always been their “no-names” pack, grafters like Alex Ainley and Gareth Evans always emptying the thank. Were the likes of Tom Franklin, Liam Squire and Elliot Dixon available then that Highlanders set of forwards would be even more imposing.

In trying to pick apart two quality sides, that battle upfront feels like the area where the Lions can gain supremacy due to some of the Highlanders’ best forwards being unavailable.

The template is unlikely to deviate drastically from the Crusaders, putting the pressure on Webb and Dan Biggar to kick accurately and principal chasers Nowell and Tommy Seymour, both with experience as full-backs, to compete.

If the game opens up, the Highlanders have the backs to punish the Lions for any defensive lapses. But if the Lions can keep it tight and mute the Highlanders as they did the Crusaders, then the advantage swings their way.

Players to Watch

For Highlanders: Leading the charge for the Highlanders will be captain Luke Whitelock, brother of Crusaders captain Sam, and the number eight has quietly enjoyed another strong season without getting international recognition. Whitelock’s tackle counts regularly rise into double figures and that will be required again on Tuesday. Tough as they come.

For British and Irish Lions: Hopes are high for Jonathan Joseph to show what he can do in attack, having been kept on ice since the opener against the Provincial Barbarians. Possessing a fast step and plenty of pace, Joseph also attracts interest given his subtle kicking game and ability to cover in a drift defensive scheme. A massive threat to the Highlanders defence, and with an interesting match-up against Fekitoa.

Head-to-head: Two young props for the future pack down opposite each other in Dunedin, when Daniel Lienert-Brown takes on Kyle Sinckler. Lienert-Brown’s surname of course will be familiar, with his brother Anton named in the New Zealand squad last week, and as a young loosehead the 24-year-old is still in the early stages of his development into a top prop.

Unsurprisingly he is very effective in the loose, much like Sinckler, who has caught Gatland’s eye with his soft hands and ability to break the gain-line. Again, his best years are still to come in the front row. The two props are only born a month apart, making this in an intriguing match-up.

Prediction: Difficult to call, but with confidence high again in the Lions group and having spent more time together as a midweek side, and given the Highlanders’ absentees upfront, the Lions can edge this. Lions by five.

The teams:

Highlanders: 15 Richard Buckman, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Teihorangi Walden, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Kayne Hammington, 8 Luke Whitelock (c), 7 Dillon Hunt, 6 Gareth Evans, 5 Jackson Hemopo, 4 Alex Ainley, 3 Siate Tokolahi, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown
Replacements: 16 Greg Pleasants-Tate, 17 Aki Seiuli, 18 Siosuia Halanukonuka, 19 Josh Dickson, 20 Jimmy Lentjes, 21 Josh Renton, 22 Marty Banks, 23 Patrick Osborne

British and Irish Lions: 15 Jared Payne, 14 Jack Nowell, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Robbie Henshaw, 11 Tommy Seymour, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Sam Warburton (c), 6 James Haskell, 5 Iain Henderson, 4 Courtney Lawes, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Rory Best, 1 Joe Marler
Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Jack McGrath, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Alun Wyn Jones, 20 Justin Tipuric, 21 Greig Laidlaw, 22 Owen Farrell, 23 Elliot Daly

Date: Tuesday, June 13
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Kick-off: 19:35pm local (07:35 GMT)
Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant Referees: Pascal Gauzère, Mathieu Raynal
TMO: Marius Jonker