Landers get Smith boost
27 Apr 2012
Highlanders fullback Ben Smith has recovered from a concussion and will start against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Smith missed the Highlanders’ 30-27 victory over the Blues in Dunedin, but returns for the team’s first tour match in South Africa as the only change to their run-on XV.
This sees a shuffle in the backline as Tamati Ellison shifts from No 15 to outside centre to make way for Smith, while Phil Burleigh is dropped from the match 22 completely.
Wing Siale Piutau features on the bench after an extensive period on the sidelines because of an ankle injury.
Highlanders – 15 Ben Smith, 14 Buxton Popoali’i, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Mike Delany, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Manu, 7 James Haskell, 6 Adam Thomson, 5 Jarrad Hoeata, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Chris King, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Jamie Mackintosh (c).
Subs: 16 Jason Rutledge, 17 Ma’afu Fia, 18 Culum Retallick, 19 Doug Tietjens, 20 Jimmy Cowan, 21 Chris Noakes, 22 Siale Piutau.
One Comment
28 Apr 2012, 07:59 am
Salute the passing of Sir Fred Allen (Fred the Needle) who died, aged 92 today. The oldest living All Black at the time of his death. Captain of the 1949 AB team who were blanked 0-4 by the Boks, largely due to crooked home-town refs. Coach of the ABs from 1966 to 1969 and who did not lose a single test.
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