Lima Sopoaga’s brother to make his debut for the Highlanders

Former NRL player Tupou Sopoaga is set to make his Super Rugby debut for the Highlanders in Dunedin on Friday night.

Sopoaga, the brother of All Blacks and Highlanders first-five eighth Lima, has been named on the bench for the team's round six match against the winless Melbourne Rebels.

After struggling for game time, the 24-year-old former Cronulla Shark and Penrith Panther gave up league and returned to rugby union late last year in Australia's domestic competition.

The loose forward signed to play for the Southland Stags a few weeks ago, and was promptly snapped up by the Highlanders, whose loose forward stocks have been depleted by injury. 

His inclusion coincides with All Black loose forward Liam Squire missing a fourth consecutive match with a knee injury. 

Highlanders coach Tony Brown had hoped he would be available for the match, but it appears he will now have to wait until next week, when they host the Blues. 

 In addition to Squire still being injured, fellow loose forwards Shane Christie, Dan Pryor and James Lentjes are all still injured. 

Halfback Aaron Smith will play his 100th game for the franchise on Friday night, having debuted against the Bulls in Pretoria in 2011. 

He will become the fifth player after Anton Oliver, Jimmy Cowan, Chris King and Ben Smith to play 100 games for the franchise. 

"Aaron has been the best No 9 in the world for some time now and is such an important part of our game," Brown said. 

Smith will combine with first five-eighth Marty Banks, who has replaced Fletcher Smith in the starting side for the match. 

Banks kicked two important penalties in the team's 18-13 win against the Brumbies in Canberra last week, after replacing a shaky Smith at halftime. 

Winger Tevita Li returns to the starting side after a rest, replacing Sio Tomkinson, who scored a try on debut last week. Li will start opposite Patrick Osborne on the right-wing. 

Prop Aki Seiuli, lock Joe Wheeler and loose forward Gareth Evans have all been promoted from the bench to the starting side this week, while Elliot Dixon and Daniel Lienert-Brown shuffle to the bench. 

The Highlanders are chasing consecutive wins for the the first time this season. 

 

AT A GLANCE

Highlanders: Ben Smith (c), Tevita Li, Malakai Fekitoa, Richard Buckman, Patrick Osborne, Marty Banks, Aaron Smith, Luke Whitelock, Dillon Hunt, Gareth Evans, Tom Franklin, Joe Wheeler, Siate Tokolahi, Liam Coltman, Aki Seiuli. Reserves: Greg Pleasants-Tate, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Siosuia Halanukonuka, Elliot Dixon, Tupou Sopoaga, Kayne Hammington, Fletcher Smith, Matt Faddes. 

 

Photo: SIMON WATTS/Getty Images (Tupou Sopoaga, pictured playing for the Panthers in 2015, is set to debut for the Highlanders on Friday night.