Waikato have announced their matchday 23 to face Canterbury at FMG Stadium Waikato, to kick-off the Bunnings Warehouse NPC restart.  

Head coach, Ross Filipo, has named his matchday 23 with only a few changes from the side that beat Wellington several weeks ago.

In the front row, hooker, Steven Misa, and loosehead prop, George Dyer, have been named as starters joining co-captain Ayden Johnstone. The second row and loose forwards remain unchanged.

In the backs, there are only two changes. Beaudein Waaka and Louis Rogers both return for their first match of 2021. Waaka has been named on the left wing and Rogers has been named at inside centre.

Laghlan McWhannell will celebrate a milestone in this match as he is set to play his 18^th match for Waikato which will see him earn his Waikato blazer.

Due to COVID restrictions there will be no general public in attendance, but a select humber of sponsors and season ticket holders will be in attendance adhering to strict government delta alert level 2 guidelines. However the game will feature live on SKY Sports 1. 

Waikato take on Canterbury at FMG Stadium Waikato on Friday evening, kick-off is at 7.05pm:

1.    Ayden Johnstone (Hautapu)

2.    Steven Misa (Hamilton Marist)

3.    George Dyer (Fraser Tech)

4.    James Tucker (Hamilton Marist)

5.    Laghlan McWhannell (Hautapu)

6.    Samipeni Finau (Hamilton Old Boys)

7.    Mitch Jacobson (Hautapu)

8.    Jack Lam (Hamilton Marist)

9.    Xavier Roe (Hamilton Old Boys)

10.  Fletcher Smith (University)

11.  Beaudein Waaka (Melville)

12.  Louis Rogers (University)

13.  Bailyn Sullivan (Hamilton Marist)

14.  Liam Coombes-Fabling (Fraser Tech)

15.  Matty Lansdown (Fraser Tech)

16.  Sam Cooper (Hamilton Old Boys)

17.  Ollie Norris (Hautapu)

18.  Rob Cobb (Hamilton old Boys)

19.  Hamilton Burr (Hautapu)

20.  Liam Messam (Hautapu)

21.  Cortez Ratima (Otorohanga)

22.  D’Angelo Leuila (Fraser Tech)

23.  Tepaea Cook-Savage (Fraser Tech)

Article added: Thursday 16 September 2021