Highlanders get seven in ABs squad

Finally the battlers down South are getting recognised.

The "chip on the shoulder'' mentality has spurred on the Highlanders forward pack for the past two seasons, but now the Southern team might need to call on some fresh motivation after Liam Squire and Elliot Dixon were named in the 32-man All Blacks squad to play Wales in a three-test series next month.

The call-ups are just reward for a forward pack which often flies under the radar, despite having one of the most reliable scrums and lineouts in the Super Rugby competition.

The loose forwards will have another familiar face at All Blacks training this week, too, as Highlanders lock Tom Franklin has been named as injury cover for Sam Whitelock.

Squire and Dixon join fellow Highlanders Ben Smith, Aaron Smith, Malakai Fekitoa, Waisake Naholo and Lima Sopoaga to make up the largest contingent of Highlanders in an All Blacks squad since the 1999 Rugby World Cup.