Waikato travel north this week to Whangarei, as they take on Northland Taniwha at Semenoff Stadium in week 5 of the Bunnings Warehouse NPC.  

Head coach, Ross Filipo, has made two changes to his starting XV that beat Tasman Mako last Friday.

Hooker, Sam Cooper has been promoted from the reserves to start. Cooper’s inclusion in the starting XV, means Steven Misa moves to the reserves for this match.

The final change is at blindside flanker, Hamilton Burr, has been named on the side of the scrum replacing Samipeni Finau.

There are a couple of players in line for milestones in this match. Rob Cobb has a chance to make his 18^th appearance for the province, that will see him rewarded with his Waikato Blazer and Rupeni Tamani has a chance to make his Waikato debut from the reserves as loose forward cover.

Waikato take on Northland at Semenoff Stadium, Whangarei on Friday evening, kick-off is at 7.05pm:

1.    Ayden Johnstone (Hautapu) - Co-Captain

2.    Sam Cooper (Hamilton Old Boys)

3.    George Dyer (Fraser Tech)

4.    James Tucker (Hamilton Marist)

5.    Laghlan McWhannell (Hautapu)

6.    Hamilton Burr (Hautapu)

7.    Mitch Jacobson (Hautapu)

8.    Liam Messam (Hautapu)

9.    Cortez Ratima (Otorohanga)

10.  Fletcher Smith (University) - Co-Captain

11.  Mosese Dawai (Hautapu)

12.  Gideon Wrampling (Te Awamutu Sports)

13.  Bailyn Sullivan (Hamilton Marist)

14.  Liam Coombes-Fabling (Fraser Tech)

15.  Matty Lansdown (Fraser Tech)

16.  Steven Misa (Hamilton Marist) 

17.  Ollie Norris (Hautapu)

18.  Rob Cobb (Hamilton old Boys)

19.  James Thompson (Hautapu)

20.  Rupeni Tamani (Hamilton Old Boys)*

21.   Xavier Roe (Hamilton Old Boys)

22.  D’Angelo Leuila (Fraser Tech)

23.  Tepaea Cook-Savage (Fraser Tech)

* = Waikato Debut

Article added: Thursday 30 September 2021