All Blacks' Liam Squire makes Highlanders return
Last Updated: 12/07/17 3:35pm
All Blacks flanker Liam Squire will make his Highlanders return when they face the Reds on Friday in their final game of the Super Rugby regular season.
Squire suffered a broken thumb against the Cheetahs in early May and while he recovered to join the All Blacks for their series against the British and Irish Lions he did not play in any of the three tests, or for the Highlanders in their 23-22 victory over the tourists.
Fellow internationals Aaron and Ben Smith have been rested for Friday's game at Otago Regional Stadium, live on Sky Sports 3 HD from 8.30am.
Full-back Ben Smith has been cleared of concussion issues after being forced off during the first Lions Test, but tests showed he had an inner ear problem and with the Highlanders already through to the playoffs, coach Tony Brown has given the 31-year-old another week off.
Liam Coltman and Malakai Fekitoa, who were also on All Blacks duty for the Lions series, will play against the struggling Reds.
Fellow All Black Waisake Naholo could be playing his last game in Dunedin for the Highlanders after local media quoted him as saying he was considering a move to the Chiefs next season to be closer to family.
"I'd like to stay in New Zealand for at least one more year and go from there," Naholo told the New Zealand Herald.
"If I come up to the Chiefs I'll be closer to them and being close to family is important for my rugby career. It helps a lot with many things, but all this time I've been by myself so I don't mind.
"I'm weighing things up at the moment and will hopefully come up with a decision in a few more weeks and see where I go from there.
"I love playing for the 'Landers and the environment with the boys down there makes me enjoy my rugby."
The Reds have made two changes to the side that snatched a last-gasp win against the Brumbies last week with flanker Caleb Timi handed his run-on debut.
Rob Simmons returns at lock with Kane Douglas dropping to the bench alongside Australia U20 captain Reece Hewat and Jayden Ngamanu, who will make their Reds debuts if introduced.
Highlanders: 15 Richard Buckman, 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Rob Thompson, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Kayne Hammington; 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown, 2 Liam Coltman, 3 Siate Tokolahi, 4 Jackson Hemopo, 5 Tom Franklin, 6 Liam Squire, 7 James Lentjes, 8 Luke Whitelock (c).
Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Aki Seiuli, 18 Guy Millar, 19 Gareth Evans, 20 Dan Pryor, 21 Josh Renton, 22 Marty Banks, 23 Patelesio Tomkinson.
Reds: 15 Karmichael Hunt, 14 Izaia Perese, 13 Campbell Magnay, 12 Duncan Paia'aua, 11 Eto Nabuli, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 James Tuttle; 1 Sef Fa'agase, 2 Stephen Moore (c), 3 Taniela Tupou, 4 Rob Simmons, 5 Izack Rodda, 6 Caleb Timu, 7 George Smith, 8 Adam Korczyk.
Replacements: 16 Alex Mafi, 17 Markus Vanzati, 18 Sam Talakai, 19 Kane Douglas, 20 Reece Hewat, 21 Moses Sorovi, 22 Hamish Stewart, 23 Jayden Ngamanu.