Waikato has named their team to face North Harbour for their first home game at FMG Stadium Waikato on Saturday afternoon in week 2 of the 2018 Mitre 10 Cup.

Waikato head coach Jono Gibbes has made minimal changes to his match day 23.  The tight five remains unchanged from last week with the only change to the forward pack being in the loose forwards. Mitch Jacobson remains at openside flanker but Jordan Manihera makes the move from blindside flanker to number 8 making room for Adam Burn to start.

On the bench Jono Armstrong is back in the tri-colours for the first time since 2013 and has a chance to add to his 18 Waikato caps as loose forward cover.

In the backs there is only one change to the backline that started against Manawatu last week. Jack Stratton gets his first start at halfback swapping with Kylem O’Donnell who moves to the reserves.

In the reserves,  young prop Sosaia Fale has a chance to make his debut for the province replacing Sefo Kautai. Lock Laghlan McWhannell comes in for Sam Caird and has a chance to add to his two Waikato appearances from the bench.

Waikato Head Coach Jono Gibbes said, “We are excited to have our first opportunity to play in front of our home crowd. Preparation for this match has been good and the energy in the team is high after a tough first up loss.

It is going to be a tough challenge this weekend going up against a well drilled Premiership team like North Harbour that made the top four last year, but we believe the team is up for this challenge.”  

Waikato v North Harbour is proudly sponsored by McDonalds Waikato, with collections from the game donated to the Waikato Rugby Union’s charity of choice, Ronald McDonald House Charities New Zealand.

Waikato take on North Harbour at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton on Saturday afternoon, kick-off is at 4.35pm.

1.    Ayden Johnstone (Hautapu)

2.    Samisoni Taukei’aho (Fraser Tech)

3.    Joshua Iosefa-Scott (Melville)

4.    Tim Bond (University)

5.    James Tucker (Hamilton Marist)

6.    Adam Burn (Hamilton Old Boys)

7.    Mitch Jacobson (Hautapu)

8.    Jordan Manihera (Hamilton Old Boys)

9.    Jack Stratton (University)

10.  Matty Lansdown (Fraser Tech)

11.  Sevu Reece (Hamilton Old Boys)

12.  Dwayne Sweeney – Captain (Morrinsville Sports)

13.  Quinn Tupaea (Hamilton Old Boys)

14.  Declan O’Donnell (Melville)

15.  Fletcher Smith (University)

16.  Mike Mayhew (Hautapu)

17.  Haereiti Hetet (Otorohanga)

 18.  Sosaia Fale (Hamilton Old Boys)*

19.  Laghlan McWhannell (Hautapu)

20.  Jono Armstrong (Hautapu)

21.  Kylem O’Donnell (Melville)

22.  Bailyn Sullivan (Hamilton Marist)

23.  Tyler Campbell (University)

* = Waikato debut

Article added: Friday 24 August 2018