OWN CORRESPONDENT, Wellington | Thursday 2.00pm.
TWO of the Otago Highlanders’ injured big guns will return to the fray as the All Black-laden team seeks to regain top spot from the Stormers in the Super 12 in the competition’s final qualifying round this weekend.
The Highlanders led the Super 12 table for much of the competition but slipped to second behind South Africa’s Stormers last weekend when they had a bye.
Tighthead prop Kees Meeuws and openside flanker Josh Kronfeld were named on Thursday to play against the Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday, though utility back Brendan Laney remained injured.
The renewed strength up front came just at the wrong time for the Hurricanes, missing lock the downed Mark Cooksley. However All Black winger Tana Umaga returns from injury while Mal Arnold will start at fly-half in place of the injured David Hollwell.