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The Highlanders have enlisted the services of Liam Coltman, tough forward Hugh Renton and a robust James Lentjes to withstand the Blues’ early physical assault at Eden Park on Sunday.
Coach Tony Brown has revealed that Lentjes, who has not played Super Rugby since a horror injury in February 2020, built up some extra muscle during his long rehab and now weighs in at over 110kg.
“It’s great to have Jimmy back at No. 7,” Brown said.
“Obviously it’s been more than a year since he played a game at this level and he’s very interested in doing it well, and he’s a little bit bigger last year, so we’re looking for a little physicality right from the start.”
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Lentjes scored two maul attempts against the Hurricanes in the Highlanders’ final preseason hit last month and has clearly been lifting weights for the past 12 months.
With the Liam Squire absent being “managed” in the early part of the season, it will be up to Lentjes and Renton to get the upper hand against a huge Blues pack that assistant coach Clarke Dermody compared to a South African team.
“I think he’s had a year of rehab, a year of training, so he got in there and put on a little extra muscle to prepare his body as best he could,” Brown said.
“He weighs more than 110 kg at the moment and he used to be quite underneath.”
The size theme continues on the baseline, where Ngantungane Punivai moves to the right wing to tag Caleb Clarke of the Blues, while the 95kg Connor Garden-Bachop takes over Mitch Hunt’s No. 15 jersey. .
Kerry Marshall / Getty Images
Aaron Smith came off the bench for the Highlanders against the Chiefs last week.
That means a withdrawal at center for Michael Collins against his former team.
“Bringing in Mike and putting Ngane Punivai on the wing allows us to have a little more physical presence at width,” Brown said.
“Connor has played quite well the last two weeks, so we are expecting a great performance as a fullback.”
Garden-Bachop’s performance in the number 15 jersey will be pivotal, and Scott Gregory’s tough night in the office against the Blues at Eden Park last year remains a painful memory for Highlanders fans.
HIGHLANDERS
Highlanders midfielder Sio Tomkinson reveals his desire to play for Samoa.
The Blues capitalized on a series of Gregory’s mistakes as they launched into a useful lead that the Highlanders were unable to regain, despite a comeback in the second half.
However, Gregory seems much more comfortable in midfield than on defense, while Garden-Bachop has made it clear that No. 15 is his preferred position.
If you nail your work under the high ball, the Highlanders will hope that you can provide the spark from behind as they try to play the game to the beat.
To that end, Brown has reinstated All Blacks running back Aaron Smith at No. 9 after his bench role last week.
Backup running back Folau Fakatava was strong in his 50 minutes against the Chiefs at Hamilton, scoring a good try and defending bravely, but there’s no question that Smith’s distribution and ruck speed remain the best in the country.
Joe allison
James Lentjes is finally back in Super Rugby after recovering from last year’s terrible injury.
Tighthead mainstay Jeff Thwaites also said the Highlanders coaches had asked players to “review their attitudes” after slow starts against the Crusaders in the first round and the Chiefs in Hamilton.
“We talk a lot about our start and how we got out of the sheds and we are a little more clinical in our first actions, especially in the first 20 minutes,” Thwaites said.
“It was just about checking your attitude and doing your job a lot better. It depends on the people who have that attitude to fulfill their role.
“It will be a great opportunity and a great test for us. [against the Blues]. We just have to go to work and give it our all ”.
The Blues beat the Highlanders twice last year to claim the prized Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy.
Joe Allison / Getty Images
Tighthead mainstay Jeff Thwaites faces a major challenge against the All Blacks loaded blues pack.
Sunday’s match starts at 3.35pm and will be played in front of a crowd at Eden Park after Auckland’s move to Covid-19 alert level 1 at noon on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Highlanders have named a strong side of the Bravehearts to face the Crusaders Development XV on Saturday.
Pari Pari Parkinson, Ayden Johnstone, Kazuki Himeno, Solomon Alaimalo and Nehe Milner-Skudder will start, with Parkinson and Johnstone returning from long spells with injuries.
TAKE A LOOK
What: Super Rugby Aotearoa, round 3
Who: Blues vs Highlanders
When: Sunday, 3:35 p.m., Eden Park, Auckland
Highlanders: Connor Garden-Bachop, Ngantungane Punivai, Michael Collins, Sio Tomkinson, Jona Nareki, Josh Ioane, Aaron Smith (cc), Hugh Renton, James Lentjes, Shannon Frizell, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Josh Dickson, Siate Tokolahi, Liam Coltman, Ethan by Groot.
Bookings: Ash Dixon (cc), Josh Hohneck, Jeff Thwaites, Bryn Evans, Marino Mikaele Tu’u, Folau Fakatava, Mitch Hunt, Billy Harmon.
Blues: Stephen Prophet, Mark Telea, Rieko John, Harry Plummer, Caleb Clarke, Otere Black, Jonathan Ruru; Hoskins Sotutu, Dalton Papalii, Akira Ioane, Sam Darry, Patrick Tuipulotu (captain), Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Luteru Tolai, Karl Tu’inukuafe.
Bookings: Kurt Eklund, James Lay, Nepo Laulala, Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, Tom Robinson, Sam Nock, Tanielu Tele’a, Emoni Narawa.
TAB probabilities: Blues $ 1.37 Highlanders $ 2.90
