Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens back from injury after more than 180 days to face the Drua

Highlanders’ Fijian outside back Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens will be making his long-awaited return to the Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific when he lines up against his fellow countrymen, the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua, in this weekend’s round 9 clash in Dunedin.

After spending more than 180 days on the sideline due to injury, the 23-year-old has been named to start at fullback this Saturday. With the loss of their electric fullback Finn Hurley for the remainder of the season, Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens’ return has boosted the team’s morale going into the remaining 7 round robin games, especially against the Drua, who are also hungry for a win to keep their finals hope alive.

Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens will be lining up for the Highlanders alongside three other players with links to Fiji in the likes of Veveni Lasaqa, who will start at flanker, Jona Nareki, who will be on the left wing, and Timoci Tavatavanawai, who will start at second five-eighth.

Coach Jamie Joseph says they had a challenging tour to Australia in terms of results but the players are glad to be back in Dunedin with a few home games to look forward to.

Joseph says they are five points outside the top six now, and everyone is clear on the challenge in front of them.

He says the execution of their game plan has been off over the last few games, but he knows his team never stops working and he expects them to give it everything against the Drua on Saturday.

The Highlanders’ starting XV are Ethan de Groot, Henry Bell, Sosefo Kautai, Will Stoddart, Fabian Holland, Oliver Haig, Veveni Lasaqa, Hugh Renton (CC), Folau Fakatava, Cameron Millar, Jona Nareki, Timoci Tavatavanawai (CC), Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Taniela Filimone (Debut), and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens.

The impact players are Jack Taylor, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Saula Ma’u, Tai Cribb (Potential debut), Nikora Broughton, Adam Lennox, Sam Gilbert, and Tanielu Tele’a.

The Highlanders will host the Drua at 7.05pm Saturday at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin.

In other matches this week, the Hurricanes will play the Crusaders at 7.05pm tomorrow, the Waratahs will take on the Chiefs at 9.35pm tomorrow, the Blues will host Moana Pasifika at 4.35pm Saturday, and the Reds will play the Brumbies at 9.35pm Saturday.