Time for Mooloos to Put the Pressure On
27th August 2009 01:45PM
Getting the basics right and taking opportunities is key to Waikato's approach when they take on Counties-Manukau in Pukekohe this Saturday in week five of the Air New Zealand Cup.
Waikato coach Chris Gibbes said: "we need to get our basics right and nail the opportunities that we are creating. We know, and have shown, we can put teams under pressure and we are looking to build on that this week against Counties Manukau.
"Counties Manukau will be a formidable physical side and have the ability to hurt teams out wide. They are a high off-load and line break team and we need to be accurate defensively. Saturday afternoon is the opportunity for us to front physically and combat their strengths, while playing our game and getting things back on track."
Waikato All Blacks Brendon Leonard and Stephen Donald will form a tried and true combination at halfback and first-five eighth for the Mooloos. While hooker Aled de Malmanche will start in the front row alongside Hikairo Forbes and Nathan White.
In the loose forwards Alex Bradley, a specialist number eight from the Waikato Development team, will get a start combining with Matt Blain at number seven and captain Liam Messam on the blindside.
"Alex has shown good form through club rugby and early parts of the Development team's campaign. He gets an opportunity to start and is excited by the challenge ahead, I'm sure he will make the most of his opportunity to showcase his skills as a specialist number eight."
Meanwhile, in the backs Sosene Anesi moves from fullback to wing for this fixture with Trent Renata getting the nod to start in the number 15 jersey this week.
Waikato takes on Counties-Manukau in week five of the Air New Zealand Cup at Bayer Growers Stadium in Pukekohe on Saturday 29 August. Kick off is 2.35pm.
The Waikato team is
1. Hikairo Forbes
2. Aled de Malmanche
3. Nathan White
4. Romana Graham
5. Kevin O'Neill
6. Liam Messam (captain)
7. Matt Blain
8. Alex Bradley
9. Brendon Leonard
10. Stephen Donald
11. Dwayne Sweeney
12. Callum Bruce
13. Save Tokula
14. Sosene Anesi
15. Trent Renata
Reserves:
16. Vern Kamo
17. Ben May
18. Toby Lynn
19. Jordan Smiler
20. Tawera Kerr-Barlow
21. Sam Christie
22. Tim Mikkelson
Footnotes:
1. Callum Bruce is set to play his 18th game for Waikato which will see him earn his blazer. Tim Mikkelson, should he come off the bench during this Saturday's match, will also play his 18th cap and receive a blazer.
2. The following were not considered for selection due to injury: loose forward Ray Allen (ankle) prop Kieran Ramage (shoulder), loose forward Jack Lam (leg) and loose forward Sione Lauaki (foot).
