It’s the battle of the Kaimai’s when Waikato travel to Rotorua this Sunday to face Bay of Plenty at Rotorua International Stadium in week two of the Mitre 10 Cup. 

This fixture will also see Waikato defend their Chiefs Country Cup title they won off Bay of Plenty at the same venue last season.

Waikato head coach Andrew Strawbridge has made minimal changes to the side that beat Canterbury last weekend. The forward pack is unchanged with last week’s debutants James Thompson and Hamilton Burr retain their starting spots in the run on XV after impressing the coaches last week.

The only change to the backs which is injury forced; Tyler Campbell suffered a leg injury minutes into last week’s match that saw him leave the field allowing exciting youngster, Rivez Reihana, to make an earlier than expected debut for the province. Reihana was another player to have an impressive debut playing almost a full game from fullback. His performance has seen him rewarded with a start in the position this week.     

Sam Cooper was named in the match day 23 last week but did not feature so this week he again has a chance to make his provincial debut. Joining Cooper in the reserve with a chance to make his debut for the province is Newton Tudreu who comes onto the bench as outside back cover.

Waikato head coach Andrew Strawbridge said “Bay of Plenty are one of the inform team from Round 1 and will offer a speedy tempo and a unique dynamic that our team will have to match.”

Waikato take on Bay of Plenty at Rotorua International Stadium on Sunday afternoon, kick-off is at 4.35pm:

1.    Ayden Johnstone (Hautapu)

2.    Samisoni Taukei’aho (Fraser Tech)

3.    Josh Iosefa-Scott (Melville)

4.    Tim Bond (Morrinsville Sports)

5.    James Thompson (Hautapu)

6.    Hamilton Burr (Hautapu)

7.    Mitch Jacobson (Hautapu)

8.    Murray Iti (Otorohanga)

9.    Jack Stratton (Hautapu)

10.  Fletcher Smith (University)

11.  Valynce Te Whare (Fraser Tech)

12.  Dwayne Sweeney (Morrinsville Sports) - Captain

13.  Quinn Tupaea (Hamilton Old Boys)

14.  Bailyn Sullivan (Hamilton Marist)

15.  Rivez Reihana (Melville)

16.  Sam Cooper (Hamilton Old Boys)*

17.  Ollie Norris (Hautapu)

18.  Sefo Kautai (Hamilton Marist)

19.  Antonio Shalfoon (Te Awamutu Sports)

20.  Simon Parker (Hautapu)

21.  Raniera Takarangi (Hamilton Old Boys) 

22.  Louis Rogers (University)

23.   Newton Trudreu (Hamilton Marist)*

* = Waikato Debuts

Unavailable for selection

Solomon Alaimalo, Jahrome Brown, Matty Lansdown, Anton Lienert-Brown, Luke Jacsobson, Sekope Lopeti-Moli, Damian McKenzie, Laghlan McWhannell, Sevu Reece, Taleni Seu, Toby Smith, James Tucker

Article added: Friday 16 August 2019