All Blacks halfback Jimmy Cowan has been dropped to the bench for the Super Rugby derby between the Highlanders and Crusaders in Dunedin on Saturday.
Cowan, 29, who has played 95 games for the Highlanders since his debut in 2003, is replaced by the livewire Aaron Smith.
Smith added energy and sharpness off the bench against the Chiefs and scored the first of his team’s two tries.
“Aaron’s chipping away, he’s a good player who is doing well for us,” head coach Jamie Joseph said.
“He made a difference against the Chiefs and he has a different skill set to Jimmy.”
It is a continuation of a dip in fortunes for Cowan, capped 51 times by the All Blacks.
He was the No.1 ranked halfback going into the World Cup last year but finished the tournament behind Piri Weepu and Andy Ellis.
Five-eighth Chris Noakes has not recovered from a sprained ankle and is replaced by Lima Sopoaga.
All Black Colin Slade makes a surprise return via the bench after a hernia operation.
It will be Slade’s first appearance since he injured a groin muscle in the World Cup quarter-final against Argentina.
The pack is unchanged, meaning England international James Haskell will again be on the bench.
It is the Highlanders’ first match at the new Forsyth Barr Stadium while Haskell played in all three of England’s World Cup pool matches there last year, against Argentina, Georgia and Romania.
“With the closed roof, the conditions are fantastic,” he said. “The pitch is amazing and there is a lot of noise, which is great. It’s just an incredible surface to play on. To have this as your home ground is pretty special.”
The Highlanders and Crusaders both won their first round matches, the Highlanders beating the Chiefs 23-19 and the Crusaders overcoming the Blues 19-18. A crowd of about 23,000 is expected.
Highlanders: Ben Smith, Buxton Popoali’i, Tamati Ellison, Phil Burleigh, Hosea Gear, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith, Nasi Manu, John Hardie, Adam Thomson, Nick Crosswell, Josh Bekhuis, Chris King, Andrew Hore, Jamie Mackintosh (captain). Reserves: Jason Rutledge, Bronson Murray, Culum Retallick, James Haskell, Jimmy Cowan, Colin Slade, Telusa Veainu.
