Brown taking head coach role in his stride

Tony Brown.
Tony Brown.
Tony Brown admits he is busier than normal but the job is still the same - get the players ready to play as well as possible.

The short stint of Brown, Highlanders head coach, officially starts at Forsyth Barr Stadium tomorrow as the Highlanders take on Chiefs in the opening round of Super Rugby.

Brown has had three years as assistant coach but this year - before heading to Japan to be the assistant coach of the Cherry Blossoms - he is the man in charge.

He may be the lord of the manor but he is not getting carried away with the role.

The former All Black first five-eighth is taking it all in his stride.

''I'm not really feeling more pressure. There is always pressure in games of rugby. I think one of my strengths is not allowing the players to feel that pressure. It is business as usual for us.

''It's [the job's] not any different. But you have to do more work. You've got to make sure your whole environment is running smoothly and I still have to do my role as attack coach. Then you have got the selection of the players. So it keeps me busy.''

Brown has named his first side and has picked two new caps to start the game. Left winger Tevita Li will get a chance to show his wares while up front tighthead prop Siate Tokolahi will run out.

New boys hooker Adrian Smith, prop Guy Millar and halfback Kayne Hammington will all get the chance to make their Highlanders debut via the bench.

Brown said it was always tough to select a side in the first game of the season.

''It's always a hard team to pick at this time of year. Some players have put in some great work in the pre-season. Then you've got the All Blacks coming back in so it is a tough selection. That first game - all coaches struggle with that.''

Seven of the side's eight All Blacks start with blindside flanker Elliot Dixon coming off the bench.

Gareth Evans gets the start after a good effort in the pre-season. Evans had a muddled year last year, locked out of a starting spot, and will be keen to make an impact.

It will be Malakai Fekitoa's 50th game for the team tomorrow night.

Brown said Fekitoa had been amazing for the side since he made his debut in the first match of 2014.

''When he plays, he plays with his whole heart. He's been great for our team and the crowd really loves him for that.

The Chiefs will be without All Black flanker Sam Cane because of an ankle injury.

He is replaced by rookie Mitchell Karpik, who missed all of last year because of a knee injury.

Liam Messam will start at No8 with new boy Johnny Faauli at second five-eighth.

Big prop Nepo Laulala makes his Chiefs debut after also missing last year because of a knee injury.

The Highlanders have beaten the Chiefs in their past six encounters.

A crowd of more than 18,000 is expected at tomorrow night's match.

By yesterday afternoon, about 14,500 tickets had been sold to the match with about 600 tickets left in the Zoo in the west stand. There are also tickets left in the family stand and the other two main stands.

Highlanders chief executive Roger Clark said he was confident a crowd of from 18,000 to 18,500 would turn up at the game.

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