Frizell back in Landers starting line-up

All Black loose forward Shannon Frizell has returned to the Highlanders starting line-up.

The 27-year-old was stood down last week for the opening game of the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman.

It is alleged he assaulted a woman at a Dunedin bar in the early hours of May 9 but he will don the No6 jersey against the Force in Perth tomorrow night.

In-form Japanese No8 Kazuki Himeno moves to the bench to accommodate Frizell’s return, while Hugh Renton moves to the boot of the scrum.

There is just one other change to the pack which fronted for the 40-19 win against the Reds in Dunedin. Lock Bryn Evans replaces Josh Dickson in the starting line-up.

In the backs, first five-eighth Josh Ioane has returned from an ankle complaint and will start from the bench.

Coach Clarke Dermody said Frizell’s energy was welcomed.

"Last week he was not quite in the right head space to play for us so we decided to leave him out,"Dermody said.

"It was the right decision. He seems energised now and ready to go again."

There will be three new faces in the Steinlager Series squad including Highlanders and Tasman...
Shannon Frizell. Photo: Getty Images

Ioane has returned earlier than expected from his ankle injury and has been busy during his absence.

"He has done a lot off field. He has almost personal-best skin folds, so that shows a change of mindset for Josh.

"He is really starting to work on his off-field game as well."

Dermody’s impression of the Force is that it is a side with a strong culture.

"They’ve fought back from not even being in the competition to be now pushing every team late in games.

"I think that shows the good job they have done over here.

"They are not easy. They are a really quality team with a really good spine in their team."

Dermody was pleased with the opening performance against the Reds but felt his side could have been more clinical.

The team let the pressure valve off at stages but overall Clarke was pleased with the execution.

"We’re happy with round one. We try not to read too much into the press around the draw and how we got lucky.

"I’m happy with how we executed the game plan for extended periods.

"If we can lose those loose moments in games, that is the way forward for this team."

Veteran Force lock and former Hurricane Jeremy Thrush has vowed to "piss a few people off".

The former All Black has been a key figure at the Force since joining them in 2018.

"Last week [against the Chiefs] I did find it pretty fun to try to ruffle a few feathers of Kiwi boys back home," Thrush said.

"All I've got left in me really now is to be a bit niggly and piss a few people off.

"I'm going to try to do a bit more of that on the weekend." — Additional reporting AAP

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