Captain returns to starting lineup
For Manawatu¯ captain Antonio Kiri Kiri, the most arduous chunk of his season so far was sitting helplessly by and watching the Turbos being overrun by Wellington on Sunday.
While he will return to lead the side from the flank against Bay of Plenty at Rotorua tonight, Kiri Kiri was one of the team’s many victims of fatigue caused by crazy, repeat four-day turnarounds.
Coach Jeremy Cotter unilaterally made the call to sit him out.
‘‘It hurts to sit and watch,’’ Kiri Kiri said. ‘‘I´ didn’t want a spell, but I definitely did need it.’’
Whispers from within hint that the Turbos’ Super Rugby players’ tongues are hanging out after being on the go since December.
Kiri Kiri lives and plays in Auckland with his partner. He played three games for the Blues this year as an injury replacement for Blake Gibson. They signed Kiri Kiri for eight weeks and he served 41⁄2 months until he suffered a knee injury, damaging cartilage under the kneecap.
‘‘It does feel like glass inside my knee,’’ he said.
Kiri Kiri has been a fine performer for the Turbos, despite the string of six defeats.
‘‘It gets a bit hard after a few losses,’’ he said. ‘‘The boys are still hanging on to a bit of hope.’’
When named captain, Kiri Kiri set out to emulate the previous two skippers, Callum Gibbins and Heiden Bedwellcurtis.
At 26, he is also looking at future options, including a career after rugby.
The coaches have had to rotate players to haul them through the commando schedule of four games in 13 days.
Instead of bussing to Rotorua, they are permitted to fly there and bus home.
Kiri Kiri is one of eight changes to the starting XV, which has more of a firstxv look about it. The others are haflback Jamie Booth; wing Michael Tagicakibau, back from a hamstring strain; fullback Junior Laloifi, after concussion; No 8 Brice Henderson; lock Tom Hughes; and props Fraser Armstrong and Michael Alaalatoa.
Flanker Adrian Wyrill is out with an injured shoulder, wing Te Rangatira Waitokia was a late scratching with a neck injury, while first-five Jade Te Rure returns from his elbow injury against Otago to the reserves. Exhausted midfielder Lifeimi Mafi is rested.
All Black Ngani Laumape was back from his knee injury, training with the team on Tuesday. He will return to contact training next week aiming to play Hawke’s Bay on October 5.
Also on the mend is big Feilding No 8 Sam Wasley, who ruptured a medial ligament on debut against Waikato in the season opener.
Lock Nick Crosswell is bracketed for today, with his wife expecting their second child.
Meanwhile, Cotter said the team refocused on Tuesday for the final three games, stressing discipline and hard work.
‘‘Confidence is down, but morale is high,’’ he said. ‘‘This game will be do or die for both teams.’’
Bay of Plenty are in a rut too, having lost their past four games, including 54-21 to Waikato last week, in a Wellingtonesque romp.