Elliot Dixon has become the Mr Fixit of the Highlanders pack and he will play a key role in their season-ending Super Rugby match against the Rebels in Melbourne on Friday.
Dixon, 23, is a No.8 who can play on the blindside flank but has been forced to the openside for the last three games after season-ending injuries to specialists John Hardie and Tim Boys.
He last played No.7 when he was at school but has impressed there during the last two weeks with his pace and physicality against the Crusaders and Hurricanes.
He topped the tackle count against the Hurricanes with 23 in Saturday’s 49-44 upset win to lift the Highlanders off the competition cellar.
While many players might be jaded after a long campaign, Dixon can’t wait for his first visit to Melbourne.
He’ll face a 12th-placed Rebels side whose only game since June 7 was a 35-0 loss to the British and Irish Lions.
“We’d like to attack as we did against the Hurricanes but we need to tighten our defence and, if we do that, we should go well.”
Captain Andrew Hore returns in one of two starting changes, replacing hooker Liam Coltman.
New Zealand under-20 Jason Emery returns, pushing Tamati Ellison to second five-eighth and Shaun Treeby to the reserve bench.
Hore, boasting 140 Super Rugby games, is part of a hardened tight five that has played a combined tally of 463 games at this level – a competition record.
Alongside him are props Tony Woodcock (124 games) and Ma’afu Fia (23), and locks Brad Thorn (106) and Josh Bekhuis (70).
Wings Hosea Gear and Kade Poki are playing their last games for the Highlanders before taking up contracts in France and Japan respectively.
Victory over the Rebels would be the fourth for the Highlanders this season and would ensure they avoid the wooden spoon.
They spent most of this season in last place after losing their first eight games but moved ahead of South Africa’s Southern Kings last week.
Highlanders: Ben Smith, Kade Poki, Jason Emery, Tamati Ellison, Hosea Gear, Colin Slade, Aaron Smith, Mose Tuiali’i, Elliot Dixon, TJ Ioane, Josh Bekhuis, Brad Thorn, Ma’afu Fia, Andrew Hore (capt), Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Liam Coltman, Bronson Murray, Jake Paringatai, Joe Wheeler, Fumiaki Tanaka, Hayden Parker, Shaun Treeby.
