Makos props at a premium
The Tasman Makos’ propping resources, a notable strength in recent campaigns, are being sorely tested this season.
Injuries, illness and All Blacks call-ups have conspired to leave the Makos scrambling for experienced front rowers as they enter the fifth round of the Mitre 10 Cup.
The side’s three most seasoned props could all be absent from the side who meet Otago in Dunedin on Saturday.
No 1 tighthead Siua Halanukonuka has been sidelined with a lower leg injury since the opening game, Kane Hames, who covers both sides of the scrum, has been involved with the All Blacks and makes his first start against South Africa on Saturday, while loosehead specialist Tim Perry has been training this week with the All Blacks. He has been named in the Tasman starting XV, but his availability is not yet confirmed.
Squad member Ryan Coxon, a member of the NZ under-20 side, has not been sighted so far in the Mitre 10 Cup through injury. Tom Hill, the fifth prop named in the original Makos squad, has performed admirably when called on, while replacement Isaac Salmon has made a fine fist of the tighthead role since coming into the starting line-up against Manawatu. Jack Straker, recruited from the Canterbury wider training squad, has made a couple of appearances off the bench, but has headed back down south.
Salmon and Perry have been named to start at Forsyth Barr Stadium, with Hill and Tasman Griffins player Drew Petelo recruited onto the bench.
Makos’ head coach Leon MacDonald said the All Blacks’ decision to enlist Hames and Perry had meant Tasman have had to ‘‘dig deep into the stocks again’’.
‘‘Drew [Petelo] will cover us at tighthead while we have also picked up Harrison Allen, a New Zealand under-20 loosehead prop from Canterbury, as extra cover,’’ said MacDonald.
Apart from the front row uncertainty, the remainder of the Makos side for Saturday is similar to that which overcame Wellington 37-35 in Blenheim on Sunday. The only change to the starting line-up sees lock Quinten Strange return to the middle row after a few weeks off with illness. The versatile Shannon Frizell shifts to the bench.
The backline is unchanged, providing some much-needed continuity.
Saturday looms as a special day for one of the side’s most popular characters, with versatile loose forward Vernon Fredericks poised to run out for his 50th game in the Makos’ jersey.
Fredericks has battled his fair share of adversity since he made his debut in 2010, particularly a potentially career-ending problem in 2015.
After being concussed in a club game in April, doctors discovered a two centimetre cyst in his brain and operated immediately. By August he had recovered sufficiently to be named in the Makos playing side, making a powerful return off the bench against Manawatu and providing one of the feel-good stories of the season.
The 26-year-old, from Marlborough’s Moutere club, made his Super Rugby debut for the Crusaders earlier this season.
MacDonald said Fredericks had ‘‘done it the hard way’’.
‘‘He spent a lot of time training without getting game time, on the fringes, so it will be nice for him to reach that milestone. The boys are rapt for him.’’
Otago, while a Mitre 10 Cup championship side, are highlyrated and will provide a torrid test for Tasman, who are chasing a third consecutive win.
‘‘We have battled with them traditionally,’’ said MacDonald. ‘‘The physicality that they have brought has been right up there. If you don’t get it right they will make you pay.
‘‘But we will take a lot of confidence out of the Wellington game.’’