Leonard and De Malmanche to Start for Mooloos at Home
6th August 2009 01:12PM
All Blacks Brendon Leonard and Aled de Malmanche will run out in their red, yellow and black jerseys this Saturday afternoon in Hamilton when Waikato takes on Manawatu in week two of the Air New Zealand Cup.
De Malmanche will start at hooker, supported by front rowers Hikairo Forbes and Ben May. In the loose forwards Sione Lauaki is set to make his first appearance of the season for the Mooloos at number eight. Captain Liam Messam moves to the blindside and Jack Lam will start again at openside.
The Waikato backline is mostly unchanged from last week's Southland match, with the only change being Leonard starting in the number nine jersey, meaning David Bason covers halfback from the reserve bench.
Waikato coach Chris Gibbes said: "it is obviously great to see both Aled and Brendon coming into the team and we're looking for them to add value and be part of what has already been built and worked on by our squad so far."
"It is also exciting for the likes of Hikairo and Romana to get their first starts for the season. Both guys can certainly build on their form they showed in last year's competition and bring that into this match."
Gibbes added the Manawatu will be a solid challenge for Waikato this weekend and one that the team will relish from in front of a home crowd..
"Manawatu have shown they are an eighty-minute team, who are well-coached, and are a positive attacking team. It will be a big battle."
"Our Waikato boys are excited by the challenge and by the fact it is our first home game in our yard. Playing in front of our people, our passionate supporters and hearing the Mooloo bells ringing, will be huge for our boys this weekend."
Waikato takes on Manawatu in week two of the Air New Zealand Cup at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton on Saturday 8 August. Kick off is 2.35pm.
The Waikato team is:
1. Hikairo Forbes
2. Aled de Malmanche
3. Ben May
4. Toby Lynn
5. Romana Graham
6. Liam Messam (captain)
7. Jack Lam
8. Sione Lauaki
9. Brendon Leonard
10. Sam Christie
11. Dwayne Sweeney
12. Callum Bruce
13. Roimata Hansell-Pune
14. Tim Mikkelson
15. Sosene Anesi
Reserves:
16. Ole Avei
17. Kieran Ramage
18. Kent Fife
19. Jordan Smiler
20. David Bason
21. Trent Renata
22. Save Tokula.
Footnotes:
Gates open at Waikato Stadium at midday on Saturday. At 12.05 a curtain raiser match on the number one field kicks off between Hamilton Police and Counties-Manukau Police.
At 1.40pm more than 3500 junior rugby players from around the province will walk around the main field proudly wearing their club colours in the annual Junior March Past.
