Rugby: Fekitoa to miss Blues clash

Malakai Fekitoa. Photo / Getty

All Black centre Malakai Fekitoa has been ruled out of the Highlanders team to play the Blues tomorrow night.

Fekitoa's groin injury has not recovered sufficiently for coach Jamie Joseph to be confident the game-breaker can last the distance at Eden Park.

In his absence, Richard Buckman moves to centre and Shaun Treeby marks his 50th appearance for the Highlanders with a start at second five-eighth.

The Highlanders are bolstered by the return of All Black backs Aaron Smith and Ben Smith, and winger Patrick Osborne also returns, helping alleviate the loss of Fekitoa.
In the forwards, there is a completely different front row.

Unheralded prop Daniel Lienert-Brown earns his first start of the season next to Liam Coltman and Josh Hohneck.

The locking crisis leads to Joe Latta also earning his first start, while Dan Pryor returns at No 8, Elliot Dixon switches to the blindside, and Gareth Evans goes to the bench.

A new face on the bench is young Otago lock Jackson Hemopo.

1. Daniel Lienert-Brown
2. Liam Coltman
3. Josh Hohneck
4. Alex Ainley
5. Joe Latta
6. Elliot Dixon
7. John Hardie
8. Dan Pryor
9. Aaron Smith
10. Lima Sopoaga
11. Patrick Osborne
12. Shaun Treeby
13. Richard Buckman
14. Waisake Naholo
15. Ben Smith ( c )

Reserves:
16. Ash Dixon
17. Brendon Edmonds
18. Ross Geldenhuys
19. Jackson Hemopo
20. Gareth Evans
21. Fumiaki Tanaka
22. Marty Banks
23. Kurt Baker