Simplify and refresh.
The Highlanders have shuffled around a few players and added a new recruit for the game against the Crusaders in Christchurch tomorrow.
It is a short turnaround this week following the 32-25 loss to the Blues in Dunedin on Saturday and coach Tony Brown has made some changes to keep the energy levels high.
Former Crusaders hooker Andrew Makalio will make his first run-on appearance for the Highlanders.
Rhys Marshall will provide cover with regular hooker Liam Coltman getting a week off.
Josh Hohneck will start at tighthead prop, while lock Bryn Evans rotates back into a starting spot ahead of Manaaki Selby-Rickit.
All Blacks loosehead Ethan de Groot, abrasive No8 Marino Mikaele-Tu’u and talented fullback Connor Garden-Bachop all return this week after missing the game against the Blues due to Covid.
Sam Gilbert shuffles across to the wing to make room for Garden-Bachop, while de Groot will start from the bench.
The Highlanders have also named former England international Denny Solomona on the bench.
The 28-year-old winger joined the squad in the past few weeks as cover. He will add some spark, defensive nous and leadership to an inexperienced back three.
He has spent most of his rugby career overseas and has been capped five times for England. He has also played rugby league for Samoa.
The Highlanders have lost five consecutive games to start the season and are in desperate need of a win. But Brown said the changes were mostly about a refresh.
"And giving guys opportunities to impress and obviously add to our performance and hopefully get something a little bit more out of the side," he said.
The Highlanders have an experienced bench. Loose forward Gareth Evans will play his 50th game for the Highlanders, while first five Marty Banks will play his 50th Super Rugby game.
With Solomona also on the bench, the Highlanders might be able to avoid a repeat of their last effort against the Crusaders, who finished strongly in the last quarter to win 34-19 in Dunedin last month.
Brown said stacking the bench with experience was not intentional, though.
"The bench is the bench. We are hoping they always make an impact. But it is good to have Denny finally getting an opportunity to impress."
The Highlanders produced a much improved performance against the Blues last week but are still searching for a maiden win this season.
While Brown is frustrated with the results, he saw "signs of growth in our game last week".
They have simplified the game plan.
"It is just making sure the players are all understanding what we are trying to achieve on the field. Simplifying just means doing your job better, understanding it better and not over complicating it.
"That is all we’ve done in the last couple of weeks around making sure we’re executing everything we need to on the rugby field and not beating ourselves really."
Loose forward Billy Harmon was expected to return from a shoulder reconstruction by week 10 of the competition but is ahead of schedule, while fellow loosie Christian Lio-Willie is close to being back to full fitness.
The Crusaders will be without All Black lock Sam Whitelock, who will miss the next four weeks with a fractured bone in his hand.
Fellow lock Mitch Dunshea has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a knee injury.
Canterbury lock Zach Gallagher (20) has been named on the bench and is in line to make his debut.
Super Rugby Pacific
The teams
Highlanders: Connor Garden-Bachop, Sam Gilbert, Fetuli Paea, Scott Gregory, Mosese Dawai, Mitch Hunt, Aaron Smith (c), Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, James Lentjes, Shannon Frizell, Josh Dickson, Bryn Evans, Josh Hohneck, Anderw Makalio, Daniel Lienert-Brown. Reserves: Rhys Marshall, Ethan de Groot, Jermaine Ainsley, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Gareth Evans, Folau Fakatava, Marty Banks, Denny Solomona.
Crusaders: Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, Leicester Fainga’anuku, David Havili, George Bridge, Richie Mo’unga, Mitchell Drummond, Cullen Grace, Tom Christie, Ethan Blackadder, Quinten Strange, Scott Barrett (c), Fletcher Newell, Codie Taylor, Joe Moody. Reserves: Shilo Klein, George Bower, Tamaiti Williams, Zach Gallagher, Pablo Matera, Bryn Hall, Fergus Burke, Braydon Ennor.
