Waikato return home this weekend to face provincial neighbours, Counties Manukau, at FMG Stadium Waikato, in week 5 of the Mitre 10 Cup on Saturday evening.

Mitch Jacobson has been named at openside flanker and will play his 50^th match for the province. Jacobson made his Waikato debut at FMG Stadium Waikato against Auckland back in 2015.

Waikato head coach, Andrew Strawbridge, has made several changes to his matchday 23.

There are only two change to the forward pack. Josh Iosefa-Scott replaces Sefo Kautai at tighthead prop and Hamilton Burr returns to the starting XV to join Samipeni Finau in the second row. Burr’s return means, James Thompson, moves back to the reserves for this clash.

Most of the changes to the starting XV are in the backs. Regular halves pairing of, Xavier Roe and Fletcher Smith, return to halfback and first five eight respectively. With Roe and Smith returning, Cortez Ratima and Rivez Reihana will provide impact from the reserves bench.

Quinn Tupaea is back after a week off and takes over at his regular position of outside centre. He is joined by Matty Lansdown at inside centre to make up a new midfield pairing.

There is a new outside backs trio. Patrick Osborne retains his place on the left wing and Liam Coombes-Fabling shifts from fullback to the right wing. Coombes-Fabling’s move to the wing sees, Beaudein Waaka, named at fullback to make his Waikato debut.

On the reserves bench, props Tolu Fahamokioa and George Dyer have been named with Fahamokioa getting his chance to make his Waikato debut. While Dyer has a chance to earn his second Waikato cap.

The final change sees outside back, Gideon Wrampling, covering the backs and has a chance to earn his third Waikato Cap.

Waikato take on Counties Manukau at FMG Stadium Waikato in Hamilton on Saturday night, kick-off is at 7.05pm:

1.    Rob Cobb (Hamilton Old Boys)

2.    Samisoni Taukei’aho (Fraser Tech)

3.    Josh Iosefa-Scott (Melville)

4.    Hamilton Burr (Hautapu)

5.    Samipeni Finau (Hamilton Old Boys)

6.    Adam Thomson (Morrinsville Sports)

7.    Mitch Jacobson (Hautapu) – 50^th Game for Waikato  

8.    Luke Jacobson (Hautapu) - Captain

9.    Xavier Roe (Hamilton Old Boys)

10.  Fletcher Smith (University)

11.  Patrick Osborne (Fraser Tech)

12.  Matty Lansdown (Fraser Tech)

13.  Quinn Tupaea (Hamilton Old Boys)

14.  Liam Coombes-Fabling (Fraser Tech)

15.  Beaudein Waaka (Melville)*

16.  Steven Misa (Hamilton Marist)

17.  Tolu Fahamokioa*

18.  George Dyer (Fraser Tech)

19.  James Thompson (Hautapu)

20.  Liam Messam (Raglan)

21.  Cortez Ratima (Otorohanga) 

22.  Rivez Reihana (Melville)

23.  Gideon Wrampling (Hamilton Old Boys)

* = Waikato debut

Article added: Friday 09 October 2020