Frizell given exemption

Highlanders star gets the green light to line up for crunch match against the Blues

The Highlanders will roll out Shannon Frizell for his seventh game in succession as they try to force their way in the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs.

The All Blacks flanker has carried a big workload over the past two months as the Highlanders dealt with an injury crisis at lock, but they have been successful in persuading New Zealand Rugby to let him play at Eden Park.

‘‘He’s obviously into a sixth game in a row,’’ Dermody said.

‘‘But we approached New Zealand Rugby and they agreed that the games he had off before the bye, and with the rest he had – carrying that injury for a couple of weeks – that was enough to make him exempt and get us over the line.’’

Frizell has had an eventful week and was the subject of ire from the Queensland Reds after he was involved in the collision that resulted in a neck fracture for lock Connor Vest.

However, Frizell’s actions were cleared during the game by referee Brendon Pickerill and again by Sanzaar officials after the match.

His availability is a boost for the Highlanders against a big Blues side that will field Dalton Papalii, Anton Segner and Tom Robinson in the back row, with Akira Ioane lurking on the bench.

It also allows the Highlanders to finally enjoy some continuity in selections after a season heavily disrupted by injuries.

‘‘I guess we didn’t get the complete performance we were after, but we’ve seen aspects in the game [against the Reds] that were really pleasing,’’ Dermody said.

‘‘The control we had at times is what we’ve been looking for. So it’s cool to be able to settle on a pretty similar team for this week.’’

Dermody has made one notable change at No 14, where the out-ofform Jonah Lowe is replaced by Scott Gregory, a a nod to Gregory’s defensive qualities.

‘‘He’s got a massive workrate,’’ Dermody said. ‘‘Obviously, there will be a bit of containing to do against the Blues, so workrate is going to be a big part of our game plan. We try not to single out individuals – obviously, defence does become individual but it’s a lot of system stuff as well.

‘‘A lot of it is not giving them turnover ball like we did in round one. They are a team that feasts on that – not just Mark Telea, but they’re a dangerous team all over.’’

Southland midfielder Matt Whaanga’s selection in the No 13 jersey is another important one for the Highlanders – potentially with a view to 2024 and beyond.

Dermody is keen to reward local players – Whaanga started his career with Otago and his younger brother, Josh, is also in the Highlanders system – and hoped that Whaanga’s selection would serve as motivation for provincial players in the region.