Franklin hits 50 for Highlanders


Highlanders lock Tom Franklin will run out for his 50th Super Rugby game when they face the Western Force in Perth on Saturday.

The 26-year-old, who made his debut for the Dunedin-based outfit in 2014, packs down in the second row alongside Alex Ainley as the Highlanders go in search of their eighth successive victory.

Highlanders head coach Tony Brown has made minimum changes to his starting XV after last weekend’s 17-10 win over the Bulls in Pretoria.

In the back-line, there are two changes with Tevita Li coming into the run-on side for the suspended Waisake Naholo and Kayne Hammington starts at scrum-half in place of Aaron Smith, who is amongst the replacements.

Li will start on the left wing with Patrick Osborne, who wore the number 11 jersey against the Bulls, shifting over to the right wing.

Meanwhile, in the forwards, Liam Coltman returns to start at hooker with Ash Dixon dropping down to the bench.

Brown has also shuffled his back row with Elliot Dixon, who leads the side from number eight, swapping places with Gareth Evans who starts on the blindside flank.

Also included amongst the replacements is All Black fly-half Lima Sopoaga who is set to return to action after recovering from a hamstring injury sustained in the Round 3 triumph against the Blues in Auckland.

Highlanders: 15 Matt Faddes, 14 Patrick Osborne, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Richard Buckman, 11 Tevita Li, 10 Marty Banks, 9 Kayne Hammington, 8 Elliot Dixon (c), 7 Dillon Hunt, 6 Gareth Evans, 5 Tom Franklin, 4 Alex Ainley, 3 Siate Tokolahi, 2 Liam Coltman, 1 Daniel Lienert-Brown
Replacements: 16 Ash Dixon, 17 Aki Seiuli, 18 Guy Millar, 19 Joe Wheeler, 20 Jackson Hemopo, 21 Aaron Smith, 22 Lima Sopoaga, 23 Rob Thompson

Date: Saturday, May 20
Venue: nib Stadium, Perth
Kick-off: 21:45 local (09:45 GMT)
Referee: Shuhei Kubo
Assistant Referees: Ed Martin, Damon Murphy
TMO: Ian Smith

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