Mooloo’s Announce Their Team to Take on Canterbury
20th October 2010 11:00AM
"We've been focusing on getting our contact areas right this week at training as we were exposed last week at times in this area. Our defence pattern is going to have to be very good this week as Canterbury throw it around and run it from anywhere."
"Overall, this game provides us with another opportunity to get our game where we want it to be. The boys are excited to test themselves against the top of the table and we are ready to face the challenge of playing this Canterbury side and what we hope to be in front of a big Waikato crowd."
The changes to the tight forwards this week include the return of Toby Smith to the number 1 jersey after sustaining a broken nose during the Otago game. Aled de Malmanche comes back from his groin injury to add his wealth of experience to the front row and celebrates his 50th game for Waikato.
In the loose forwards, Dominiko Waqaniburotu comes back into the number 6 jersey.
Try-scoring Malcolm Barnes remains in the starting halfback jersey with Tawera Kerr-Barlow bracketed with David Bason while Trent Renata comes back into the starting line-up with Stephen Donald away with his All Black commitments. Sitiveni Sivivatu has been released from his All Black commitments to take the number 22 jersey for this weekend.
"Unfortunately Brendon Leonard failed his concussion test this morning so cannot be considered for selection this week"
The Waikato team is
1. Toby Smith
2. Aled de Malmanche
3. Nathan White (Captain)
4. Toby Lynn
5. Romana Graham
6. Dominiko Waqaniburotu
7. Jack Lam
8. Alex Bradley
9. Malcolm Barnes
10. Trent Renata
11. Dwayne Sweeney
12. Jackson Willison
13. Save Tokula
14. Henry Speight
15. Sosene Anesi
Reserves:
16. Hikairo Forbes
17. Ben May
18. Matt Vant Leven
19. Zak Hohneck
20. Tawera Kerr-Barlow/David Bason
21. Christian Lealiifano
22. Sitiveni Sivivatu
Injuries
The following were not considered for selection due to injury: Richard Kahui utility back (shoulder), Brendon Leonard halfback (head injury), Chris Middleton lock (shoulder injury), Tim Mikkelson wing (knee injury), Frank Halai wing (thumb injury), Vern Kamo hooker (shoulder injury) and Steven Setephano loose forward (calf injury).
