Waikato NPC have named their match day 23 as they travel down to Dunedin to face Otago at Forsyth Barr Stadium for round 7 of the Bunnings National Provincial Championship.

Head coach, Ross Filipo, continues to change up with matchday 23 making several changes to his squad that beat Southland during their midweek game on Wednesday night.

There is a new front row combination with Ollie Norris making his first start of the season at loosehead prop swapping places with Rob Cobb. Rhys Marshall comes off the bench and trades places with Pita Anae Ah-Sue to start at hooker and George Dyer has been promoted from the reserves to start at tighthead prop.

Lock, James Tucker, returns to partner Hamilton Burr in the second row. Burr becomes one of the co-captains for this match. Tuckers return means James Thompson moves to the reserves.

Samipeni Finau also returns to the starting XV and takes over at blindside flanker, Patrick McCurran, has been promoted from the bench to start at openside flanker and Jack Lam is promote to start this week and will anchor the back of the scrum at number 8.

In the backs, Xavier Roe, has been named at halfback and will partner Taha Kemara in the halves. Kemara retains his place at first five eight after his outstanding performance on Wednesday night

There is a new midfield combination for this match as both D’Angelo Leuila and Bailyn Sullivan both return at inside and outside centre respectively.

Daniel Sinkinson retains his spot on the left wing but Tana Tuhakaraina moves from outside centre to right wing due to the return of Sullivan to outside centre. Finally Damian McKenzie comes off the bench to start at fullback and has also been named as co-captain.

In the reserves, Sefo Kautai, Luke Jacobson, Rhys Dickinson and Mosese Dawai all return to the matchday 23 and will provide impact from the bench.

Waikato take on Otago at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin on Sunday afternoon, kick-off is at 2.05pm:

1.    Ollie Norris (Hautapu)

2.    Rhys Marshall

3.    George Dyer (Fraser Tech)

4.    James Tucker (Hamilton Marist)

5.    Hamilton Burr (Hautapu) – co-captain

6.    Samipeni Finau (Hamilton Old Boys)

7.    Patrick McCurran (Fraser Tech)

8.    Jack Lam (Hamilton Marist)

9.    Xavier Roe (Hamilton Old Boys)

10.  Taha Kemara (Te Awamutu Sports)

11.  Daniel Sinkinson (Melville)

12.  D’Angelo Leuila (Fraser Tech)

13.  Bailyn Sullivan (Hamilton Marist)

14.  Tana Tuhakaraina (United Matamata Sports)

15.  Damian McKenzie (University) – co-captain

16.  Pita Anae Ah-Sue (Southern United)

17.  Rob Cobb (Hamilton Old Boys)

18.  Sefo Kautai (Hamilton Marist)

19.  James Thompson (Hautapu)

20.  Luke Jacobson (Hautapu)

21.  Rhys Dickinson (Fraser Tech)

22.  Cortez Ratima (Otorohanga)

23.  Mosese Dawai (Otorohanga)

Article added: Friday 16 September 2022