Folau Fakatava given break as Highlanders make shock selection

Wednesday, 25 March 2026

New All Blacks head coach Dave Rennie has overhauled his coaching staff, retaining only Jason Ryan. Tana Umaga, Neil Barnes, and Mike Blair join the ranks to lead New Zealand rugby into its next chapter under Rennie's leadership.

The Highlanders have turned to a 22-year-old from their development team to help spark their Super Rugby season.

In a shock selection, Southland halfback Nic Shearer will wear the No 9 jersey on his Super Rugby Pacific debut against Moana Pasifika at North Harbour Stadium on Friday night.

It’s an early must-win for the Highlanders after a crushing 50-7 defeat to the Hurricanes last week. The loss was their fourth in six games, leaving them eighth on the table, 11 points off the pace.

Moana Pasifika sit last and haven’t won since their round-one upset over the Fijian Drua.

Shearer played for Canterbury during the 2024 NPC before making the move south to join Southland last year, where he scored a try in their famous Ranfurly Shield victory over Waikato.

He was part of the Highlanders wider training squad but earned a promotion when the hugely promising Dylan Pledger suffered a season-ending ACL injury in pre-season.

“Every game he’s played for the Bravehearts, he’s taken it by storm and been outstanding,” coach Jamie Joseph said of Shearer.

“He’s playing without any mental stress. He just wants to play the game and he’s a young fella, I think he can get into that game and just show what he’s about.”

Shearer takes the place of Folau Fakatava, who made two tests for the All Blacks in 2022. Fakatava has started five games for the Highlanders this year but has been dropped after a lacklustre start, with Adam Lennox to provide cover from the bench against Moana.

“Folau’s not playing as well as he can play,” Joseph admitted.

“Sometimes that’s just because there’s a lot of pressure he feels he’s being put under by the opposition, certainly not the team.

“A break away from the game I think will do wonders for Folau.”

Another notable change to the Highlanders team that lost to the Hurricanes sees co-captain and All Blacks midfielder Timoci Tavatavanawai benched but Joseph confirmed Tavatavanawai has been struggling with a foot injury.

“He’s in a boot and can hardly walk but he’s a tough old battler so I’m sure he’ll be fine.”

Jamie admitted the Highlanders were hurting after such an emphatic defeat last week, but they are targeting an immediate response against Moana, their final game before the bye, to revive their season.

“They’re like us – they want to win.”