Josh Ioane to start at 12 for Highlanders

David Skippers

All Blacks fly-half Josh Ioane has been named at inside centre for the Highlanders’ Super Rugby encounter against the Sharks in Dunedin on Friday.

Mitch Hunt, who joined the Highlanders from the Crusaders during the off-season, will start at fly-half for the 2015 champions’ opening match of the 2020 campaign.

Hunt is one of six Highlanders debutants in the matchday squad selected by head coach Aaron Mauger.

There will also be first time appearances for wings Jona Nareki and Tima Fainga’anuku. Looking to debut off the bench is the versatile former Blues utility back Michael Collins, who is joined by loose forward Teariki Ben-Nicholas and lock Jesse Parete.

Nareki and Fainga’anuku will be joined in the back three by Josh McKay, who starts at full-back.

Having made his debut in 2016 and become a backline mainstay since, Rob Thompson will play his 50th game for the Highlanders. A strong running centre his experience and midfield combination with Ioane should provide plenty of attacking firepower against the Sharks who started their season with a win in Round One.

Mauger said: “The squad has worked very hard during the pre-season and the players are excited by the opportunity to play in front of our home supporters at our stadium.”

The team will be captained by Otago loose forward James Lentjes.

Highlanders: 15 Josh McKay, 14 Tima Fainga’anuku, 13 Rob Thompson, 12 Josh Ioane, 11 Jona Nareki, 10 Mitch Hunt, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Marino Mikaele Tu’u, 7 James Lentjes (c), 6 Dillon Hunt, 5 Josh Dickson, 4 Paripari Parkinson, 3 Siate Tokolahi, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Ayden Johnstone
Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Josh Iosefa-Scott, 19 Jesse Parete, 20 Shannon Frizell, 21 Kayne Hammington, 22 Michael Collins, 23 Teariki Ben-Nicholas

Date: Friday, February 7
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Kick-off: 19:05 local (06:05 GMT)
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Paul Williams (New Zealand), James Doleman (New Zealand)
TMO: Chris Hart (New Zealand)

Highlanders