Highlanders change six for Bulls

Highlanders head coach Tony Brown has made six changes to his starting XV for Saturday’s clash with the Bulls in Pretoria.

A training injury to Luke Whitelock has forced another reshuffle to the Highlanders loose forward trio, having lost Liam Squire last week Brown has named versatile loose forward Gareth Evans at number eight while Elliot Dixon takes Squire’s position on the blindside flank.

Loosehead prop Aki Seiuli earns a start alongside hooker Ash Dixon in the front row and Alex Ainley takes Joe Wheeler’s place at lock.

Dixon will captain the side in his first start of the season. Liam Coltman takes a well-earned break and Greg Pleasants-Tate and Jackson Hemopo will be looking to get their first run-on of the three week tour from the replacements bench.

Richard Buckman returns from injury to take his place in the midfield, while utility back Teihorangi Walden will make his impact off the bench.

Highlanders: 15 Matt Faddes, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Richard Buckman, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Marty Banks, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Gareth Evans, 7 Dillon Hunt, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Tom Franklin, 4 Alex Ainley, 3 Siosuia Halanukonuka, 2 Ash Dixon (c), 1 Aki Seiuli
Replacements: 16 Greg Pleasants-Tate, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Siate Tokolahi, 19 Joe Wheeler, 20 Jackson Hemopo, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Fletcher Smith, 23 Teihorangi Walden

Date: Saturday, May 13
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 15.05 local (13.05 GMT)
Referee: Jaco van Heerden
Assistant Referees: Egon Seconds, Cwengile Jadezweni
TMO: Johan Greeff