Official team lists and injury news for this week's provincial rugby championship games.
Hawke's Bay v Northland (Ranfurly Shield)
7pm Friday, October 16
McLean Park, Napier
Hawke's Bay: 1-Pouri Rakete-Stone, 2-Ash Dixon, 3-Joe Apikotoa, 4-Geoff Cridge, 5-Tom Parsons, 6-Marino Mikaele-Tu'u, 7-Brendon O'Connor, 8-Devan Flanders, 9-Folau Fakatava, 10-Lincoln McClutchie, 11-Jonah Lowe, 12-Ollie Sapsford, 13-Stacey Ili, 14-Lolagi Visinia, 15-Kurt Baker
Reserves: 16-Kianu Kereru-Symes, 17-Jason Long, 18-Joel Hintz, 19-Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20-Gareth Evans, 21-Connor McLeod, 22-Caleb Makene, 23-Neria Fomai
Only three players - flanker Brendon O'Connor, second-five Ollie Sapsford and fullback Kurt Baker - have survived from the starting XV that lost to North Harbour last week, as the Magpies defend the Ranfurly Shield for the first time.
Ash Dixon returns at hooker to captain the side.
Northland: 1-Ross Wright, 2-Jordan Olsen (c), 3-Kalolo Tuiloma, 4-Josh Goodhue, 5-Sam Caird, 6-Tom Robinson, 7-Kara Pryor, 8-Matt Matich, 9-Sam Nock, 10-Dan Hawkins, 11-Pisi Leilua, 12-Blake Hohaia, 13-Rene Ranger, 14-Jone Macilai, 15-Scott Gregory
Reserves: 16-Paddy Atkins, 17-Luatangi Li, 18-Coree Te Whata-Colley, 19-Temo Mayanavanua, 20-Rob Rush, 21-Will Grant, 22-Johnny Cooper, 23-Kalani Going
Northland have made two changes to their starting side, as they look to become the fifth team to hold the Shield this year.
Both changes come in the tight five, with Kalolo Tuiloma replacing Coree Te Whata-Colley at prop and Josh Goodhue replacing Temo Mayanavanua, who was named in Fiji's squad for the Autumn Nations Cup, at lock.
The Taniwha last won the Log o' Wood in 1978.
Manawatū v Bay of Plenty
2:05pm Saturday, October 17
Central Energy Trust Arena, Palmerston North
Manawatū: 1-Chris Eves, 2-Sam Stewart, 3-Michael Alaalatoa, 4-Micaiah Torrance-Read, 5-Teofilo Paulo , 6-Liam Mitchell, 7-Johnny Galloway, 8-Tyler Laubscher, 9-Jamie Booth (c), 10-Stewart Cruden, 11-Newton Tudreu, 12-Adam Boult, 12-James Tofa, 13-Josiah Maraku, 14-Nigel Ah Wong, 15-Nehe Milner-Skudder
Reserves: 16-Siua Maile, 17-Solomona Sakalia, 18-Kyle Stewart, 19-Sam Liebezeit, 20-Shamus Hurley-Langton , 21-Bryn Wilson, 22-Ben Wyness, 23-Drew Wild
The Turbos have made a host of changes to their starting side with Johnny Galloway earning his first start of the season at No. 7 while Liam Mitchell moves from the second row to the blindside flanker as Teofilo Paulo also returns to the side after a week off.
In the backs, Stewart Cruden comes in at first-five while Newton Tudreu returns to the wing in place of Adam Boult. Prop Solomona Sakalia will make his Manawatu debut off the bench.
Bay of Plenty: 1-Jordan Lay, 2-Kurt Eklund, 3-Ross Geldenhuys, 4-Stan van den Hoven, 5-Keepa Mewett, 6-Kane Le'aupepe, 7-Joe Johnston, 8-Joe Tupe, 9-Luke Campbell, 10-Otere Black, 11-Regan Ware, 12-Chase Tiatia, 13-Mathew Skipwith-Garland, 14-Joe Webber, 15-Kaleb Trask
Reserves: 16-Nic Souchon, 17-Tevita Mafileo, 18-Jeff Thwaites, 19-Scott Curry, 20-Sam Dickson, 21-Leroy Carter, 22-Dan Hollinshead, 23-Cole Forbes
The Streamers have made eight changes to their starting side this week, with Ross Geldnhuys, Kane Le'aupepe, Joe Johnston coming into the pack, and Luke Campbell, Regan Ware, Chase Tiatia, Mathew Skipwith-Garland, and Joe Webber into the backline.
Wellington v North Harbour
2:05pm, Saturday October 17
Sky Stadium, Wellington
Wellington: 1-Xavier Numia, 2-James O’Reilly, 3-Alex Fidow, 4-James Blackwell, 5-Naitoa Ah Kuoi, 6-Vaea Fifita, 7-Du’Plessis Kirifi, 8-Teariki Ben-Nicholas, 9-Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, 10-Jackson Garden-Bachop, 11-Julian Savea, 12-Vince Aso, 13-Peter Umaga-Jensen, 14-Wes Goosen, 15-Billy Proctor
Reserves: 16-Tyrone Thompson, 17-Morgan Poi, 18-Ben Aumua-Peseta, 19-Caleb Delany, 20-Mateaki Kafatolu, 21-Connor Collins, 22-Aidan Morgan, 23-Ruben Love
Lock Naitoa Ah Kuoi and fullback Billy Proctor will return to the starting line-up, replacing Taine Plumtree and Trent Renata from the side that lost to Otago last week.
All Blacks squad member Peter Umaga-Jensen has again been released for Mitre 10 Cup gametime.
North Harbour: 1-Nic Mayhew, 2-Luteru Tolai, 3-Sione Mafileo, 4-Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 5-Jacob Pierce, 6-Ethan Roots (cc), 7-Dillon Hunt, 8-Murphy Taramai, 9-Bryn Hall, 10-Bryn Gatland (cc), 11-Tomas Aoake, 12-Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 13-James Little, 14-Jared Page, 15-Shaun Stevenson
Reserves: 16-Zane Turner, 17-Teague McElroy, 18-Jimmy Roots, 19-Xavier Cowley-Tuioti, 20-Tim Sail, 21-Lewis Gjaltema, 22-Jack Heighton, 23-Fine Inisi
North Harbour have made just one change to their starting XV with Asaeli Tikoirotuma coming into centre from the reserves to replace Antonio Mikaele-Tu'u.
Auckland v Tasman
4:35pm, Saturday October 17
Eden Park, Auckland
Auckland: 1-James Lay, 2-Leni Apisai, 3-Marcel Renata, 4-Scott Scrafton, 5-Jack Whetton, 6-Adrian Choat, 7-Blake Gibson, 8-Waimana Reidlinger-Kapa, 9-Jonathan Ruru, 10-Harry Plummer, 11-Salesi Rayasi, 12-TJ Faiane, 13-Tumua Manu, 14-AJ Lam, 15-Zarn Sullivan
Reserves: 16-Mike Sosene-Feagai, 17-Jarrad Adams, 18-Marco Fepulea’i, 19-Hamish Dalzell, 20-Niko Jones, 21-Danny Tusitala, 22-Simon Hickey, 23-Tanielu Tele'a
Head Coach Alama Ieremia has made three changes to the team that came back from 18 points down to stun Taranaki in Inglewood on Saturday.
Halfback Jonathan Ruru comes back into the starting lineup after injecting his energy off the bench last weekend.
Zarn Sullivan will get his first start of the season at fullback in place of Jordan Trainor, who is unavailable due to injury.
Hooker Mike Sosene-Feagai returns to the bench for Soane Vikena.
Tasman: 1-Isi Tu'ungafasi, 2-Andrew Makalio, 3-Tyrel Lomax, 4-Alex Ainley, 5-Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 6-Jacob Norris, 7-Sione Havili, 8-Hugh Renton, 9-Finlay Christie, 10-Mitch Hunt, 11-Leicester Fainga'anuku, 12-Alex Nankivell, 13-Kieron Fonotia, 14-Mark Telea, 15- David Havili
Reserves: 16-Quentin MacDonald, 17-Ryan Coxon, 18-Samuel Matenga, 19-Isaac Ross, 20-Braden Stewart, 21-Louie Chapman, 22-Fetuli Paea, 23-Sevu Reece
The defending champions have welcomed All Blacks wing sevu Reece on to their bench for their clash against Auckland.
The sole change to the starting side sees Kieron Fonotia slot into the No. 13 jersey.
Southland v Taranaki
7:05pm, Saturday October 17
Rugby Park, Invercargill
Southland: 1-Ethan de Groot, 2-Greg Pleasants-Tate, 3-Siate Tokolahi, 4-Michael McKee, 5-Ray Tatafu, 6-Charles Alaimalo, 7-Mathew James, 8-Tony Lamborn (c), 9-Raniera Takarangi, 10-Scott Eade, 11-Rory van Vugt, 12-Raymond Nu’u, 13-Isaac Te Tamaki, 14-Penikolo Latu, 15-Joshua Moorby
Reserves: 16-Sabastian Siataga, 17-Joseph Walsh, 18-Chris Apoua, 19-Craig Smith, 20-Glenn Preston, 21-Liam Howley, 22-Gregory Dyer, 23-Tevita Latu
Southland have made six changes to their starting side with three in the tight five and three in the backs.
Props Ethan de Groot and Siate Tokolahi come into the starting XV, while Ray Tataf replaces the injured Manaaki Selby-Rickit. In the backs halfback Raniera Takarangi and wings Rory van Vugt and Penikolo Latu come into the team.
Taranaki: 1-Jared Proffit, 2-Ricky Riccitelli 3-Reuben O'Neill, 4-Josh Lord, 5-Findlamor Hoeata, 6-Mitchell Brown, 7-Lachlan Boshier, 8-Pita Gus Sowakula, 9-Warwick Lahmert, 10-Stephen Perofeta, 11-Lewis Ormand, 12-Daniel Waite, 13-Sean Wainui, 14-Jacob Raumaitayuki-Kneepkens, 15-Jayson Potroz
Reserves: 16-Bradley Slater, 17-Chris Gawler, 18-Donald Brighouse, 19-Kaylum Boshier, 20-Mitchell Crosswell, 21-Lisati Milo-Harris, 22-Codey Rei, 23-Lukas Halls.
Captain Mitchell Brown will return to the starting side for the first time since round one, replacing Mitchell Crosswell at blindside flanker in one of three changes made by coach Willie Rickards.
Veteran prop Ben May has been handed a two-week suspension for dangerous play during the Auckland match.
His absence sees Reuben O’Neill switch sides in the front row with Jared Proffit returning to loosehead prop.
The only other change comes in the second row where teenage lock Josh Lord replaces Kaylum Boshier, who moves to the bench.
Canterbury v Waikato1:15pm, Sunday October 18 Canterbury: 1-Daniel Lienert-Brown, 2-Shilo Klein, 3-Tamaiti Williams, 4-Luke Romano, 5-Sam Darry, 6-Reed Prinsep (c), 7-Billy Harmon, 8-Whetukamokamo Douglas, 9-Mitchell Drummond, 10-Fergus Burke, 11-Josh McKay, 12-Rameka Poihipi, 13-Ngatungane Punivai, 14-Chay Fihaki, 15-Andrew Knewstubb Reserves: 16-Scott Mellow, 17-Lewis Ponini, 18-Fletcher Newell, 19-Caleb Aperahama, 20-Billy Harmon, 21-Ere Enari, 22-Brett Cameron, 23-Isaiah Punivai Canterbury have made a couple of personal changes to their side with hooker, Shilo Klein, halfback Mitchell Drummond and wing Josh McKay all coming off the bench into the starting side. Waikato: 1-Rob Cobb, 2-Samisoni Taukei'aho, 3-Josh Iosefa-Scott , 4-Hamilton Burr, 5-Samipeni Finau, 6-Adam Thomson, 7-Mitch Jacobson, 8-Luke Jacobson, 9-Xavier Roe, 10-Rivez Reihana, 11-Patrick Osborne, 12-Bailyn Sullivan, 13-Quinn Tupaea, 14-Liam Coombes-Fabling, 15-Beaudein Waaka Reserves: 16-Steven Misa, 17-Ollie Norris, 18-Sefo Kautai, 19-James Thompson, 20-Liam Messam, 21-Cortez Ratima, 22-Louis Rogers, 23-Gideon Wrampling The Mooloos have made two changes to their team with both coming in the backline as first-five Rivez Reihana and second-five Bailyn Sullivan joining the side. Otago v Counties Manukau1:15pm, Sunday, October 18 Otago: 1-George Bower, 2-Liam Coltman, 3-Josh Hohneck, 4-Jack Regan, 5-Josh Dickson, 6-Charles Elton, 7-Dylan Nel, 8-Sione Misiloi, 9-Kayne Hammington, 10-Josh Ioane, 11-Jona Nareki, 12-Michael Collins, 13-Josh Timu, 14-Freedom Vahaakolo, 15-Vilimoni Koroi Reserves: 16-Ricky Jackson, 17-Jamie Mackintosh, 18-Hisa Sasagi, 19-Will Tucker, 20-Nasi Manu, 21-Jono Hickey, 22-Matt Whaanga, 23-Sean Withy Coach Tom Donnelly has brought George Bower into the starting front row, and shuffled around his backline, with Freedom Vahaakolo coming onto the wing, Vilimoni Koroi dropped back to fullback and captain Michael Collins slotting into second-five. |
Counties Manukau: 1-Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 2-Donald Maka, 3-Conan O'Donnell, 4-Potu Leavasa, 5-Matiaha Martin, 6-Sam Slade, 7-Alamanda Motuga, 8-Kieran Read, 9-Jonathan Taumateine, 10-Baden Kerr, 11-Tevita Nabura, 12-Orbyn Leger (c), 13-Sione Molia, 14-Kirisi Kuridrani, 15-Etene Nanai-Seturo
Reserves: 16-Zuriel Togiatama, 17-Clinton Malolua, 18-Suetena Asomua, 19-Viliame Rarasea, 20-Viliame Taulani, 21-Cameron Roigard, 22-Latiume Fosita, 23-Luteru Laulala
Former All Blacks captain Kieran Read returns to the Counties Manukau side, while experienced stars Donald Maka and Baden Kerr are also back in the starting line-up.
Chiefs squad member Maka gets his first start of the season after coming off the bench in last weekend’s loss to Waikato in Hamilton. Maka is coach Tai Lavea’s first choice hooker but has battled concussion and a hamstring injury so far this season.
Kerr returns at the crucial first-five position for the match at Forsyth Barr Stadium, having missed last week’s game.
