Official team lists and injury news for this week's provincial rugby championship semi-finals.
OTAGO v NORTHLAND (Championship)
7pm Friday, November 20
Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin
Otago: 1-Jamie Mackintosh, 2-Ricky Jackson, 3-Josh Hohneck, 4-Jack Regan, 5-Josh Dickson, 6-Sam Fischli, 7-Slade McDowell, 8-Dylan Nel, 9-Kayne Hammington, 10-Josh Ioane, 11-Jona Nareki, 12-Sio Tomkinson, 13-Josh Timu, 14-Vilimoni Koroi, 15-Michael Collins
Reserves: 16-Henry Bell, 17-Sef Fa'agase, 18-Hisa Sasagi, 19-Will Tucker, 20-Nasi Manu, 21-James Arscott, 22-Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 23-Matt Whaanga
Umaga-Jensen will make his Otago debut off the bench, while Josh Hohneck will play his blazer game for the province.
Lock Josh Dickson, flanker Sam Fischli and No.8 Dylan Nel are changes to the pack that faced Tasman last week, while the backline is shuffled, with Josh Timu coming into centre, shifting Michael Collins to fullback and Vilimoni Koroi to the wing.
Northland: 1-Luatangi Li, 2-Jordan Olsen, 3-Coree Te Whata-Colley, 4-Josh Goodhue, 5-Sam Caird, 6-Tom Robinson, 7-Kara Pryor, 8-Sam McNamara, 9-Sam Nock, 10-Johnny Cooper, 11-Jone Macilai, 12-Tamati Tua, 13-Rene Ranger, 14-Jordan Hyland, 15-Matt Wright
Reserves: 16-Paddy Atkins, 17-Ross Wright, 18-Kalola Tuiloma, 19-Kane Jacobson, 20-Matt Matich, 21-Will Grant, 22-Wiseguy Fiane, 23-Scott Gregory
Johnny Cooper will slot into first-five for Dan Hawkins, with Paddy Atkins replacing Tyler Kearns among the forwards reserves.
AUCKLAND v WAIKATO (Premiership)
2pm Saturday, November 21
Eden Park, Auckland
Auckland: 1-Jarred Adams 2-Leni Apisai, 3-Angus Ta'avao, 4-Scott Scrafton, 5-Hamish Dalzell, 6-Presley Tufuga, 7-Adrian Choat, 8-Sione Tuipulotu, 9-Jonathan Ruru, 10-Harry Plummer, 11-Salesi Rayasi, 12-Tanielu Tele'a, 13-Tumua Manu 14-AJ Lam, 15-Zarn Sullivan
Reserves: 16-Mike Sosene-Feagai, 17-Fatongia Paea, 18-Marcel Renata, 19-Jack Whetton, 20-Niko Jones, 21-Danny Lusitala, 22-Simon Hickey, 23-Jordan Trainor
Auckland will welcome back some key players from injury ahead of their home semi-final against Waikato.
Hooker Leni Apisai, loose forwards Adrian Choat and Sione Tuipulotu, along with wing AJ Lam all return from injuries to be named in the starting XV, while Marcel Renata, Jack Whetton and Jordan Trainor return via the bench.
Renata will play in his 50th game for Auckland, while replacement prop Fatongia Paea will be in line to be Auckland’s 13th debutant of the season.
Waikato: 1-Ollie Norris, 2-Samisoni Taukei’aho, 3-Sefo Kautai, 4-Hamilton Burr, 5-Samipeni Finau, 6-Adam Thompson, 7-Luke Jacobson (c), 8-Liam Messam, 9-Xavier Roe, 10-Fletcher Smith, 11-Beaudein Waaka, 12-Bailyn Sullivan, 13-Quinn Tupaea, 14-Liam Coombes-Fabling, 15-Matty Landsdown
Reserves: 16-Steven Misa, 17-Rob Cobb, 18-Josh Iosefa-Scott, 19-James Thompson, 20- Simon Parker, 21-Rhys Dickson, 22-Patrick Osborne, 23-Matty Lansdown
Waikato have made six changes to their starting 15 for their semi-final clash.
In the forwards, Sefo Kautai comes in at tighthead prop in place of Iosefa-Scott. Hamilton Burr moves from blindside flanker to lock with Adam Thompson taking his spot at flanker.
In the backs, Fletcher Smith gets the nod at first-five with Beaudein Waka moving to the wing. Bailyn Sullivan comes in at second-five with Liam Coombes-Fablingcoming onto the wing and Matty Landsdown starting at fullback.
HAWKE'S BAY v TARANAKI (Championship)
4:30pm Saturday, November 21
McLean Park, Napier
Hawke's Bay: 1-Pouri Rakete-Stones, 2-Ash Dixon (c), 3-Joe Apikotoa, 4-Geoff Cridge, 5-Tom Parsons, 6-Marino Mikaele-Tu'u, 7-Solomone Funaki, 8-Devan Flanders, 9-Folau Fakatava, 10-Caleb Makene, 11-Jonah Lowe, 12-Neria Fomai, 13-Stacey Ili, 14-Lolagi Visinia, 15-Kurt Baker
Reserves: 16-Jacob Devery, 17-Jason Long, 18-Namatahi Waa, 19-Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20-Gareth Evans, 21-Connor McLeod, 22-Lincoln McClutchie, 23-Ollie Sapsford
Hawke's Bay have made a host of changes to their starting side with the majority of them coming in the forwards.
Captain Ash Dixon and loosehead prop Pouri Rakete-Stones both come back into the starting front row, while Marino Mikaele-Tu'u returns in the No. 6 jersey.
Centre Stacey Ili will also start in the only backline change, with Ollie Sapsford back on the bench after missing the last four games following an injury.
Taranaki: 1-Jared Proffit, 2-Bradley Slater, 3-Reuben O'Neill, 4-Jarrad Hoeata, 5-Mitchell Brown (c), 6-Tom Florence, 7-Mitchell Crosswell, 8-Pita Gus Sowakula, 9-Warwick Lahmert, 10-Stephen Perofeta, 11-Lewis Ormond, 12-Brayton Northcott-Hill, 13-Lukas Halls, 14-Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, 15-Jayson Potroz
Reserves: 16-Ricky Riccitelli, 17-Chris Gawler, 18-Ben May, 19-Findlamor Hoeata, 20-Rhodes Featherstone, 21-Lisati Milo-Harris, 22-Daniel Rona, 23-Codey Rei
Injuries have forced Taranaki to make multiple changes to their side to face Hawke's Bay, with lock Mitchell Brown to lead the side.
Brown replaces Kaylum Boshier at lock, with brother and regular captain Lachlan Boshier also ruled out alongside Sean Wainui and Josh Lord.
Jarrad Hoeata also comes into the starting side, along with Mitchell Crosswell, and Brayton Northcott-Hill.
TASMAN v BAY OF PLENTY (Premiership)
7pm Saturday, November 21
Trafalgar Park, Nelson
Tasman: 1-Ryan Coxon, 2-Quentin MacDonald, 3-Samuel Matenga, 4-Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 5-Quinten Strange, 6-Hugh Renton, 7-Sione Havili, 8-Taina Fox-Matamua, 9-Finlay Christie, 10-Mitch Hunt, 11-Leicester Fainga'anuku, 12-Tim O'Malley, 13-Fetuli Paea, 14-Mark Telea, 15-David Havili (c)
Reserves: 16-Samiuela Moli, 17-Isi Tuungafasi, 18-Blair Prinsep, 19-Isaac Ross, 20-Anton Segner, 21-Dwayne Polataivao, 22-Kieron Fonotia, 23-Tim Fainga'anuku
Tasman have made two changes to their starting XV with Quentin MacDonald and Samuel Matenga promoted after coming off the bench last weekend.
There have been lots of bench changes with Samiuela Moli, Isi Tuungafasi, Blair Prinsep, and Isaac Ross all coming into the side.
Bay of Plenty: 1-Tevita Mafileo, 2-Kurt Eklund, 3-Jeff Thwaites, 4-Stan Van Den Hoven, 5-Keepa Mewett, 6-Joe Johnston, 7-Mitchell Karpik, 8-Sam Dickson, 9-Luke Campbell, 10-Otere Black (c), 11-Joe Webber, 12-Chase Tiatia, 13-Matthew Skipwith-Garland, 14-Emoni Narawa, 15- Kaleb Trask
Reserves: 16-Nathan Vella, 17-Jordan Lay, 18-Ross Geldenhuys, 19-Zane Kapel, 20-Scott Curry, 21-Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 22-Dan Hollinshead, 23-Regan Ware
Bay of Plenty have named an unchanged 23 for this semi-final clash in Nelson.
The Steamers come into this contest winning their last five and have scored over 30 points in four of them.
