Highlanders go All Black for Jaguares

Returning to the team are All Blacks Elliot Dixon, Aaron and Ben Smith, Malakai Fekitoa and Waisake Naholo.

Patrick Osborne will play his 50th Super rugby game.

Apart from Dixon, coach Jamie Joseph has brought in Joe Wheeler, Siosuia Halanukonuka and James Lentjes to freshen the forward pack for what is expected to be a tough forward battle against a Pumas laden Jaguares.

"The Jaguares forwards were very good against the Bulls in wet conditions last week, so we are anticipating a big game up front," said Joseph.

Aaron Smith will be a welcome return at scrumhalf and will have a key role in directing the team around the field, while captain Ben Smith will be a threat to the Jaguares defence from the back.

The return of Fekitoa and Naholo will provide plenty of speed and power to the Highlanders out wide.

Unavailable due to injury are Liam Coltman (foot), Alex Ainley (calf), Daniel Lienert-Brown (leg), Liam Squire (concussion) and Shane Christie.

Highlanders: 15 Ben Smith (captain), 14 Waisake Naholo, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Rob Thompson, 11 Patrick Osborne, 10 Lima Sopoaga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Luke Whitelock, 7 James Lentjes, 6 Elliot Dixon, 5 Joe Wheeler, 4 Tom Franklin, 3 Siosuia Halanukonuka, 2 Ash Dixon, 1 Josh Hohneck.

Replacements: 16 Greg Pleasants-Tate, 17 Aki Seiuli, 18 Ross Geldenhuys, 19 Mark Reddish, 20 Dan Pryor, 21 Te Aihe Toma, 22 Fletcher Smith, 23 Matt Faddes.

Date: Saturday, July 9

Venue: Velez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires

Kick-off: 18.40 (21.40 GMT; 09.40, Sunday, July 10 NZ time)

Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)

Assistant referees: Rohan Hoffmann (Australia), Federico Anselmi (Argentina)

TMO: Santiago Borsani (Argentina)