Highlanders rest All Blacks trio in test of Australian resurgence
Coaches feel the gap between the two countries has closed after just two weekends of Super Rugby
Wellington — The Highlanders are well aware they may be facing the cutting edge of a resurgence in Australian Super Rugby teams in Melbourne on Friday but have still rested three All Blacks to face a confident Rebels side. No8 Luke Whitelock, scrumhalf Aaron Smith and fullback Ben Smith will all miss the clash against the Rebels, who had a bye last week after former Wallabies pairing Quade Cooper and Will Genia inspired them to victory over the Brumbies in Canberra in their season opener. “We’re not going to Melbourne with any illusions,” loose forward Elliot Dixon said on Wednesday. “We know that it’s going to be a test [and] these Aussie conference games aren’t going to be a walk in the park.” Dixon’s recognition of a challenge that many in 2018 would have written off as hyperbole mirrors a small trend in New Zealand that, in the early stages of the 2019 Super Rugby, the Australian sides might be experiencing a resurgence after an embarrassing run at the hands of their trans-Tasma...
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