Super Rugby Final
Highlanders unchanged for Super Rugby grand final
July 2, 2015
Super Rugby Grand Final preview

Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph has stuck with a winning combination for the Super Rugby final against the Hurricanes, making a solitary tweak to their reserves bench.

Marty Banks replaces Trent Renata as one of just two backline reserves on the bench for the championship game in Wellington on Saturday.

Super Rugby rookie James Lentjes starts again at openside flanker in the absence of injured pair John Hardie and Dan Pryor, while Shane Christie is primed to come off the bench after making a bright first appearance of the season in the semi-final victory over the Waratahs in Sydney.

Nasi Manu plays his final game for the Highlanders, the inspirational No.8 having signed a contract to play next year for Edinburgh, while Elliott Dixon, named this week in the Maori All Blacks squad, will play his 50th Super Rugby match.

Highlanders: Ben Smith (co-captain); Waisake Naholo, Malakai Fekitoa, Richard Buckman, Patrick Osborne; Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith; Nasi Manu (co-captain), James Lentjes, Elliot Dixon; Mark Reddish, Alex Ainley; Josh Hohneck, Liam Coltman, Brendon Edmonds. Replacements: Ash Dixon, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Ross Geldenhuys, Joe Wheeler, Gareth Evans, Shane Christie, Fumiaki Tanaka, Marty Banks.

© AAP

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