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Highlanders
61
Match Complete
Western Force
10
| F. Fakatava |  | 80 | ||
| S. Gilbert |  | 78 | ||
| B. Harmon | | 77 | ||
| S. Gilbert | | 59 | ||
| F. Fakatava | | 57 | ||
| S. Gilbert | | 53 | ||
| R. Marshall | | 52 | ||
| S. Gilbert | | 44 | ||
| A. Makalio | | 43 | ||
| 32 | | A. Ready | ||
| S. Gilbert | | 22 | ||
| M. Mikaele-Tu'u | | 21 | ||
| S. Gilbert | | 15 | ||
| S. Gregory | | 14 | ||
| 9 | | J. Thrush | ||
| S. Gilbert | | 6 | ||
| M. Mikaele-Tu'u | | 5 | ||
| S. Gilbert | | 3 | ||
| A. Makalio | | 2 |
| 9 | Tries | 2 | ||
| 8 | Conversions | 0 | ||
| 0 | Penalty Goals | 0 | ||
| 0 | Field Goals | 0 |
Show Preview
Round 13 of Super Rugby Pacific kicks off with the Highlanders taking on the Western Force at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin as both sides try to salvage some pride from a disappointing pair of seasons. Join The Roar for live scores from 5:05pm AEST.
Western Force coach Tim Sampson is confident his “rock-solid” 10-12 pairing will be able to cope with the Highlanders’ selection curve ball in Friday night’s crunch clash in Dunedin.
The Highlanders produced a surprise at the selection table by naming winger Sam Gilbert at flyhalf for the Super Rugby Pacific fixture.
Gilbert, who hasn’t played properly at five-eighth since his schoolboy days, was named in the No.10 jersey despite the availability of regular five-eighth Mitch Hunt plus Marty Banks and Vilimoni Koroi.
The 189cm, 98kg Gilbert will give the Highlanders extra muscle at playmaker, and he could potentially expose the Force if the visitors aren’t switched on defensively.
The Highlanders have also moved the powerful Thomas Umaga-Jensen from outside centre to inside centre, giving the Highlanders a 10-12 combo that packs a punch.
The Force have again named 20-year-old rising star Reesjan Pasitoa at No.10 and 23-year-old Bayley Kuenzle at 12.
Sampson is confident they can handle the heat from the Highlanders.
“He (Gilbert) is a big body. They’ve also shifted their 13 into 12, who is also a big body,” Sampson said.
“What you can read into that is they might look to play nice and direct and take us through the middle of the field.
“But Pasitoa and Kuenzle are very strong defensively and they’ve proven that this year. They’re rock solid.
“They’re a good combination and they don’t mind the physical stuff themselves.”
Friday night’s match looms as somewhat of a must-win encounter for the 10th-placed Force as they attempt to snare a top-eight berth.
The Force are three points behind the eighth-placed Highlanders, meaning a loss on Friday night could leave them as much as eight points adrift of eighth spot with three games to go.
Sampson has recalled star winger Manasa Mataele, but scrumhalf Issak Fines-Leleiwasa has been left in Perth due to a foot injury.
The Highlanders enter the match full of confidence following their 27-19 win over the Queensland Reds last week.
Venue: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Kick-off: 5:05pm (AEST)
Live stream: Stan Sport
Betting: Highlanders $1.09, Force $7.00 – odds via PlayUp
Highlanders (1-15): Ethan de Groot, Andrew Makalio, Jermaine Ainsley, Bryn Evans, Josh Dickson, James Lentjes (co-c), Billy Harmon, Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Aaron Smith (co-c), Sam Gilbert, Scott Gregory, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Josh Timu, Fetuli Paea, Connor Garden-Bachop.
Reserves: Rhys Marshall, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Saula Mau, Fabian Holland, Hugh Renton, Folau Fakatava, Mitch Hunt, Liam Coombes-Fabling.
Force (1-15): Tom Robertson, Andrew Ready, Santiago Medrano, Jeremy Thrush, Izack Rodda, Fergus Lee-Warner, Ollie Callan, Tim Anstee, Ian Prior, Reesjan Pasitoa, Manasa Mataele, Bayley Kuenzle, Kyle Godwin, Bryon Ralston, Jake Strachan.
Reserves: Feleti Kaitu’u, Angus Wagner, Bo Abra, Ryan McCauley, Brynard Stander, Michael McDonald, Jake McIntyre, Richard Kahui.
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Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.