Mooloos Set to Take on Lions at Home
16th September 2009 01:53PM
Waikato coach Chris Gibbes is calling for a "hard-nosed approach" to the Mooloos' performance this Friday night when they take on Wellington in week eight of the Air New Zealand Cup in Hamilton.
"Waikato's focus is to come and perform on Friday night. We need to get physicality back into our game. We were very disappointed with our efforts against Tasman last week. It is time to now own our game and bring a hard-nosed approach to our performance."
"Wellington is a good side - they can attack from all over the park. Our team needs to show that we have got what it takes to compete in this competition, and we have the opportunity to prove this against a quality side at home this Friday night."
In the forwards Gibbes has opted for the locking combination of Romana Graham and Kevin O'Neill, with young up and coming prop Latu Talakai starting at tighthead prop with Nathan White being ruled out due to a back injury.
The Waikato backline remains mostly unchanged from last week with the exception being 19-year-old Tawera Kerr-Barlow starting at halfback ahead of David Bason.
Waikato takes on Wellington in week eight of the Air New Zealand Cup at Waikato Stadium in Hamilton on Friday 18 September. Kick off is 7.35pm.
The Waikato team is:
1. Hikairo Forbes
2. Ole Avei
3. Latu Talakai
4. Romana Graham
5. Kevin O'Neill
6. Liam Messam (captain)
7. Jack Lam
8. Alex Bradley
9. Tawera Kerr-Barlow
10. Trent Renata
11. Alesana Muliaina
12. Callum Bruce
13. Save Tokula
14. Henry Speight
15. Sosene Anesi
Reserves:
16. Vern Kamo
17. Lionel Wairau
18. Kent Fife
19. Jordan Smiler
20. David Bason 21.
Dwayne Sweeney
22. Tim Mikkelson.
Footnotes:
The following were not considered for selection due to injury: Nathan White (back), Ben May (knee), first five-eighth Sam Christie (shoulder), prop Kieran Ramage (shoulder), and loose forward Sione Lauaki (foot).
Gates open at 5.00pm. The curtain raiser match between the Waikato Development team and Auckland Emerging team kicks off at 5.15pm.
