Bowden benched for Lions
Highlanders coach Glenn Moore has responded to the team's winless Super 14 campaign by demoting fly-half Daniel Bowden to the bench and moving full-back James Wilson to number ten for the Round Eight clash against the Lions.
Highlanders coach Glenn Moore has responded to his team's winless Super 14 campaign by demoting fly-half Daniel Bowden to the bench and moving full-back James Wilson to number ten for Friday's Round Eight clash against the Lions.
Bowden's demotion is one of five personnel and four positional switches made to the XV who started the 24-39 loss to the Chiefs in Hamilton last weekend.
Winger Paul Williams will wear the number fifteen jersey, and Brett Mather has been named at centre in place of Niva Ta'auso while utility Matt Saunders, drafted into the squad this week, will take Williams' spot on the wing.
Moore has also shuffled his pack out of necessity.
With number eight Steven Setephano ruled out due to a calf injury, captain Craig Newby shifts from number six to the back of the scrum, and lock Hoani MacDonald will ensure they have a tall line-out by occupying Newby's previous position.
Tim Boys replaces injured openside flanker Alando Soakai while their best lock Tom Donnelly returns after being rested against the Chiefs, as does hooker Jason Macdonald.
“We're just searching to get a combination to get us over the line,” captain Craig Newby said by way of explaining the changes not forced on his team by injury.
“I don't think we're lacking direction behind the scrum, I think it's more that we need a solid influence.”
Highlanders: 15 Paul Williams, 14 Matt Saunders, 13 Brett Mather, 12 Johnny Leota, 11 Fetu'u Vainikolo, 10 James Wilson, 9 Jimmy Cowan; 8 Craig Newby (c), 7 Tim Boys, 6 Hoani MacDonald, 5 Tom Donnelly, 4 Hayden Triggs, 3 Clint Newland, 2 Jason Macdonald, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.
Replacements: 16 David Hall, 17 Chris King, 18 Isaac Ross, 19 Adam Thomson, 20 Toby Morland, 21 Daniel Bowden, 22 Aaron Bancroft.
Date: Friday, April 4
Venue: Carisbrook, Dunedin
Kick-off: 19:35 (07:35 GMT)
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)
Touch judges: Ian Smith (Australia), Vinny Munro (New Zealand)
Television match official: Shane McDermott (New Zealand)
Assessor: Stuart Beissel (New Zealand)