Super Rugby: Highlanders skipper Ben Smith moved to wing for Bulls clash

Waisake Naholo will miss the Highlanders' clash against the Bulls in Pretoria. Photo / Getty Images

Highlanders winger Waisake Naholo has been ruled out of the side's clash against the Bulls in Pretoria this weekend, succuming to a hamstring niggle.

The 26-year-old made the trip over with the team, but was left out of the 23-man squad for Sunday morning's match, with Ben Smith shifting to the right wing and Fletcher Smith starting at fullback.

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— W Naholo (@wnaholo) April 26, 2018

"We saw a good opportunity to give him a bit of a breather this week and also an opportunity to get Fletcher Smith out on the park and start a game," Highlanders coach Aaron Mauger said of the decision.

Smith will get his first start of the year in a move Mauger said was ade to counter the Bulls' kicking game, adding another reliable boot to the backline.

The kicking duel could be an important aspect of the match. Playing at altitude, the Highlanders could opt to put boot to ball more often rather than utilising their running game.

Through the first 10 weeks of the competition, both teams have averaged more than 19 kicks, racking up about 600 kicking metres per game.

Mauger has made changes up front for the clash, too, opting to start loose forward Elliot Dixon ahead of Shannon Frizell. Frizell, fresh of a hat-trick against the Blues, will likely get a chance late in the piece off the bench.

Tyrel Lomax will also draw the start, replacing injured tighthead prop Siate Tokolahi (knee).

"Elliot's had a lot of exp throughout his career and has played at altitude before, played against Bulls teams before and been in some big set piece battles. So, his exp and know-how in those situations is going to be important for us early on," Mauger said.

"We believe if we get the first 40-50 minutes right then our defence is going ot have a big part to play at the end of the game and as we've seen with Shannon Frizell's performances over the last couple of weeks he enjoys the game when it opens up a little bit."

Frizell was one of six forwards named on the side's eight-man bench, as well as loose forward James Lentjes who returns from a shoulder injury. Halfback Kayne Hammington and midfielder Patelesio Tomkinson the two backs.

"We considered this a few weeks ago and heading into the week we really narrowed down our focus. There was always a possibility we would go with a 6-2 split on the bench and we decided it was the right thing to do this week against a big physical forward pack," Mauger said.

"It's a bit of a risk, I suppose, but we believe it's the right thing for us this weekend."

Highlanders: Fletcher Smith, Ben Smith, Rob Thompson, Teihorangi Walden, Tevita Li, Lima Sopoaga, Aaron Smith, Luke Whitelock, Dillon Hunt, Elliot Dixon, Tom Franklin, Jackson Hemopo, Tyrel Lomax, Liam Coltman, Daniel Lienert-Brown. Reserves:Ash Dixon (CC), Aki Seiuli, Kalolo Tuiloma, Alex Ainley, Shannon Frizell, James Lentjes, Kayne Hammington, Patelesioio Tomkinson.