Waikato travel to Whangarei this week to face Northland at Northland Event Centre this Saturday afternoon in week eight of the Mitre 10 Cup.

Waikato head coach Jono Gibbes has made several changes to his match day 23. There is only one change to the front row with hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho coming back into the starting line up after scoring two tries off the bench last week.

In the locks, Tim Bond keeps the number 4 jersey and James Tucker moves out one position to blindside flanker to allow, Laghlan McWhannell, to join Bond in the second row.

Tucker moving to blindside is one of the changes to this week’s new loose forward trio. Jono Armstrong has been named at openside flanker and Jordan Manihera returns from injury to start at number 8. With the inclusion of Armstrong and Manihera in the starting side, Adam Burn and Mitch Jacobson will make an impact from the reserve bench.

There are two changes to this week’s backline; Bailyn Sullivan has been named on the right wing in place of Tyler Campbell who moves to the reserves. While Matty Lansdown comes back into the starting line up and takes over at fullback.

Mike Mayhew returns from injury and has been included in the match day 23 for the first time since his last match against Auckland back in week 3.

Waikato take on Northland at Northland Event Centre, Whangarei on Saturday afternoon, kick-off is at 2.35pm.

1.    Ayden Johnstone (Hautapu)

2.    Samisoni Taukei’aho (Fraser Tech)

3.    Joshua Iosefa-Scott (Melville)

4.    Tim Bond (University)

5.    Laghlan McWhannell (Hautapu)

6.    James Tucker (Hamilton Marist)

7.    Jono Armstrong (Hautapu)

8.    Jordan Manihera (Hamilton Old Boys)

9.    Jack Stratton (University)

10.  Fletcher Smith (University)

11.  Sevu Reece (Hamilton Old Boys)

12.  Dwayne Sweeney – Captain (Morrinsville Sports)

13.  Quinn Tupaea (Hamilton Old Boys)

14.  Bailyn Sullivan (Hamilton Marist)

15.  Matty Lansdown (Fraser Tech)

16.  Mike Mayhew (Hautapu)

17.  Toby Smith (Hamilton Old Boys)

18.  Sosaia Fale (Hamilton Old Boys)

19.  Mitch Jacobson (Hautapu)

20.  Adam Burn (Hamilton Old Boys)

21.  Raniera Takarangi (Hamilton Old Boys)

22.  Pepesana Patafilo (Morrinsville Sport)

23.  Tyler Campbell (University)

Article added: Friday 05 October 2018