Waikato Announce Team to Play BOP
25th July 2011 10:56AM
Waikato coach Chris Gibbes today announced his side to take on Bay of Plenty in the fourth round of the ITM Cup, at Rotorua International Stadium this Tuesday evening.
Waikato Head Coach Chris Gibbes said: "What we learnt from the Taranaki game was that our plan works when we apply it and that we need to have the discipline and commitment to see it through."
"We are going into the Bay game focused on moving our game forward. They are a quality team with threats all over the park. We will need to nail our core roles and skills especially protecting our ball, and making our tackles. We are determined to do well in Rotorua against the competition leaders".
In the forwards Ben May, Chris Middleton and Jack Lam come off the bench into their respective jerseys with Zak Hohneck replacing Mary Holah at openside flanker. In the backs Brendon Leonard is starting at halfback with Trent Renata moving to first five-eighth after a neck injury to Stephen Donald during the Taranaki game. Rena Schuster will get his first run-on for Waikato in the midfield with New Zealand Seven's representatives Frank Halai and Tim Mikkelson teaming up with the nimble Henry Speight in the outside backs.
The Waikato team is
1. Ben May
2. Aled de Malmanche
3. Nathan White (Captain)
4. Toby Lynn
5. Chris Middleton
6. Jack Lam
7. Zak Hohneck
8. Alex Bradley
9. Brendon Leonard
10. Trent Renata
11. Henry Speight
12. Rena Schuster
13. Jackson Willison
14. Frank Halai
15. Tim Mikkelson
Reserves:
16. Marcel Cummings-Toone
17. Toby Smith
18. Romana Graham
19. Matt Vant Leven
20. Malcolm Barnes
21. Sam Christie
22. Save Tokula
23. Latu Talakai
