Josh Ioane to start at 10 for Highlanders

David Skippers

Highlanders head coach Aaron Mauger has named his starting XV to take on the Chiefs in Saturday’s Super Rugby Aotearoa season opener in Dunedin.

All Black Josh Ioane returns to the number 10 jersey and Mitch Hunt reverts to full-back. Ioane spent the earlier part of the season at inside centre but will be comfortable returning to fly-half where he has spent most of his career.

Patelesio Tomkinson claims the midfield spot and will partner Rob Thompson, with the experienced Teihorangi Walden set to make his impact from the bench.

Mauger has sprung a surprise by naming debutants Sam Gilbert and Vilimoni Koroi in his matchday squad. Gilbert, who played for Canterbury in the Mitre 10 Cup last season starts on the right wing.

Koroi was training with the All Black Sevens team but has rejoined the Highlanders since the postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and has been named on the replacements bench as backline cover.

Pari Pari Parkinson has worked his way back to a starting lock position and will partner Josh Dickson.

The team will be captained by experienced hooker Ash Dixon who starts ahead of Liam Coltman this week with both likely to see significant game time.

Highlanders: 15 Mitch Hunt, 14 Sam Gilbert, 13 Rob Thompson, 12 Patelesio Tomkinson, 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Josh Ioane, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Marino Mikaele Tu’u, 7 Dillon Hunt, 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Josh Dickson, 4 Paripari Parkinson, 3 Siate Tokolahi, 2 Ash Dixon (c), 1 Ayden Johnstone
Replacements: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Jeff Thwaites, 19 Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 20 Teariki Ben-Nicholas, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Teihorangi Walden, 23 Vilimoni Koroi

Date: Saturday, June 13
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Kick-off: 19:05 (08:05 BST, 07:05 GMT)
Referee: Paul Williams
Assistant referees: Brendon Pickerill, Ben O’Keeffe
TMO: James Doleman

 

Highlanders Josh Ioane

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