Waikato has named their side for the week 3 clash against Counties Manukau in the Mitre 10 Cup. 

Waikato head coach Andrew Strawbridge has made several changes to the match day 23. In the forward pack there are four changes; in the front row Ayden Johnstone suffered a hand injury in the game against Bay of Plenty and will be sidelined for several weeks, so Ollie Norris comes off the bench for his first start for the province.

Sefo Kautai has also been rewarded with his first start of the 2019 season swapping with Josh Iosefa-Scott who moves to the reserves. James Tucker makes his first appearance of the season after recovering from illness and will line up with Tim Bond in the second row.

The final change to the forward pack sees All Blacks flanker, Luke Jacobson, named to start at number 8 moving Murray Iti to the reserves. Luke will join his brother Mitch in the loose forwards for the first time since 2017.

In the backs there is only one change with Declan O’Donnell another player returning from injury to take his place on the left wing.

Two players will have a chance to make their first appearances for the province from the reserves, hooker, Sekope Lopeti-Moli, and Maori All Blacks prop, Haereiti Hetet, have both recovered from their injuries and have been named in the match day 23.

Waikato head coach Andrew Strawbridge said “Counties Manukau are a good team, they offer a lot of variation around their set piece and are very inventive in their attack. It will be a big challenge for us but the team has been training hard this week and we believe we will rise to the challenge.”

Waikato take on Counties Manukau at Navigation Homes Stadium on Saturday night, kick-off is at 7.35pm:

1.    Ollie Norris (Hautapu)

2.    Samisoni Taukei’aho (Fraser Tech)

3.    Sefo Kautai (Hamilton Marist)

4.    Tim Bond (Morrinsville Sports)

5.    James Tucker (Hamilton Marist)

6.    Hamilton Burr (Hautapu)

7.    Mitch Jacobson (Hautapu)

8.    Luke Jacobson (Hautapu)

9.    Jack Stratton (Hautapu)

10.  Fletcher Smith (University)

11.  Bailyn Sullivan (Hamilton Marist)

12.  Dwayne Sweeney (Morrinsville Sports) - Captain

13.  Quinn Tupaea (Hamilton Old Boys)

14.  Declan O’Donnell (Melville)

15.  Rivez Reihana (Melville)

16.  Sekope Lopeti-Moli (Hautapu)

17.  Haereiti Hetet (Otorohanga)

18.  Josh Iosefa-Scott (Melville)

19.  Antonio Shalfoon (Te Awamutu Sports)

20.  Murray Iti (Otorohanga)

21.  Raniera Takarangi (Hamilton Old Boys) 

22.  Louis Rogers (University)

23.  Newton Trudreu (Hamilton Marist)

Unavailable for selection

Solomon Alaimalo, Jahrome Brown, Tyler Campbell, Ayden Johnstone, Matty Lansdown, Anton Lienert-Brown, Damian McKenzie, Laghlan McWhannell, Sevu Reece, Taleni Seu, Toby Smith

Article added: Friday 23 August 2019