Same again for Highlanders

The Highlanders have named an unchanged side to take on the Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday.

The Highlanders will enter the match off the back of a bye week, while coach Jamie Joseph has retained faith in the side that got the job done against the Stormers a fortnight ago.

The side from Dunedin opened their season with a narrow 26-20 defeat to the Crusaders, but have won four of their five matches since to sit one point above their hosts heading into Saturday's match.

Highlanders – 15 Ben Smith (c), 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Shaun Treeby, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Nasi Manu (c), 7 James Lentjes, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Joe Wheeler, 4 Tom Franklin, 3 Josh Hohneck, 2 Ash Dixon, 1 Brendon Edmonds.
Subs: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 18 Pingi Tala’apitaga, 19 Mark Reddish, 20 Dan Pryor, 21 Fumiaki Tanaka, 22 Marty Banks, 23 Jason Emery.

Super Rugby teams (Round 9)

Photo: Rob Jefferies/Getty Images