Waikato travel to the deep south this week as they get set to face Southland Stags at Rugby Park Stadium in round 8 of the Bunnings NPC on Sunday afternoon.

Head coach, Ross Filipo, has again made minimal changes to his side from last weekend. There are no changes to the forward pack with the only change to the starting XV being at First Five Eight. Aaron Cruden comes off the bench to start, trading places with D’Angelo Leuila, who will provide impact from the reserves when called upon. 

In the reserves, Pita Anae-Ah Sue and Mason Tupaea return to the match day 23 providing impact from the bench. Also, tight head prop, Sefo Kautai, returns to the Waikato squad and will play his first game for the province since the quarter-final against Bay of Plenty in 2022 and will add to his 55 provincial caps.

Waikato take on Southland Stags in round 8 of the Bunnings NPC at Rugby Park Stadium, Invercargill on Sunday afternoon, kick-off is at 2.05pm:

1.    Ollie Norris (Hautapu)

2.    Manaaki Boyle-Tiatia (University)

3.    George Dyer (Fraser Tech)

4.    Josh Balme (Hamilton Marist)

5.    Laghlan McWhannell (Hautapu)

6.    Xavier Saifoloi (University)

7.    Patrick McCurran (Fraser Tech)

8.    Malachi Wrampling (Hamilton Old Boys)

9.    Xavier Roe (Hamilton Old Boys) – Captain

10.  Aaron Cruden (Morrinsville Sports)

11.  Aki Tuivailala (Hamilton Old Boys)

12.  Gideon Wrampling (Hamilton Old Boys)

13.  Bailyn Sullivan (Hamilton Marist)

14.  Quinn Tupaea (Hamilton Old Boys)

15.  Tepaea Cook-Savage (Fraser Tech)

16.  Pita Anae-Ah Sue (Hautapu)

17.  Mason Tupaea (Hamilton Marist)

18.  Sefo Kautai (Hamilton Marist)

19.  Tai Cribb (Hamilton Marist)

20.  Senita Lauaki (Hautapu)

21.  Quintony Ngatai (Hautapu)

22.  D’Angelo Leuila (Fraser Tech)

23.  Jole Naufahu (University)

Article added: Saturday 28 September 2024