Otago stars return for challenge
TRANQUILLITY week is over for Otago’s leading players.
Michael Collins, Josh Ioane, Dylan Nel and Josh Dickson sat out Sunday’s match against Tasman.
Otago played three games in nine days and coach Ben Herring opted to rest some of his stars for the last leg, dubbing the period ‘‘tranquillity week’’.
But with a Ranfurly Shield challenge against Waikato on Saturday, the break is over.
Collins takes back his spot at fullback, which means elusive playmaker Vilimoni Koroi drops to the bench. He would have been an asset in the starting XV and will have to bring the magic from the pine instead.
‘‘It was a tough decision because he is such a talented player and has a big future,’’ Herring said.
‘‘It was a tough call but that is just the way we’ve gone. We’ve got a very good backline, that’s for sure.’’
Josh Ioane will add some direction at first fiveeighth which was missing during the first half against Tasman. The Highlanders backup pivot is maturing into a very skilful player and has done a tremendous job of helping spark what is a potent backline.
Matt Faddes shifts from wing to his best position at centre and will partner Sio Tomkinson in the midfield.
Prop Hisa Sasagi will join Jonah Aoina and Sekonaia Pole in an allnew front row from the unit shoved around by a powerful Tasman pack. Dickson will strengthen the locking stocks and add some bulk to the second row.
Impressive No 8 Nel is back to help get his side past the gainline. Otago struggled in that area against Tasman, particularly in the first half.
Openside flanker Slade McDowall has retained his place ahead of the likes of James Lentjes, who is making his way back from a neck injury.
Joketani Koroi is rewarded for a strong performance from the bench and will join Nel and McDowall in the loose, while Naulia Dawai and Sione Misiloi are relegated to the bench.
There is no room for halfback Melani Matavao. Kurt Hammer is preferred in the starting role.
Josh Renton, who has been sidelined with a thumb injury, made his return from the bench on Sunday and will provide cover.
Midfielder Matt Whaanga injured a ligament in his foot against Tasman and was not considered.
Herring his hoping his stint on the sideline is just for the one game. The injury will be reassessed after the weekend.
AT 28yearsold, Central Southland farmer Brenton Howden has been handed the biggest rugby assignment of his life.
Howden has been named to start at lock in the Southland Stags’ Mitre 10 Cup game against Auckland at Rugby Park in Invercargill tonight.
Howden was a bolter when this year’s Stags squad was initially named before the start of the season. Now he is bracing himself for his first start.
After many years of playing for Midlands and the Eastern
Northern Barbarians at club level, Southland Country and Southland B looked to be his representative lot.
However, the Stouthland decisionmakers offered him his first provincial contract for the 2018 season.
To date, his workload with the Stags has largely been restricted to the training field, although he has been used off the bench four times.
Howden said he had not found the physicality of provincial rugby a big step up but indicated the speed of the game was certainly quicker than playing for Southland Country.
‘‘I’m a little bit anxious, a wee bit nervous, I suppose. But I’m also excited at the same time,’’ he said about tonight’s opportunity to start at lock.
Southland rugby followers best know Howden as an abrasive loose forward, but it is at lock where the Southland coaches see him fitting best into their squad.
‘‘I’m probably not quick enough at the moment as a loose forward. I put 8kg on in the offseason, so that speed is something I’ll need to work on this offseason,’’ he said.
Howden’s selection is one of a host of changes to the team which lost 2622 to Bay of Plenty on Sunday.
Only SelbyRickit and Phil Halder will run out in the same jersey they wore on Sunday.
Most of the players missing have simply been rested, although Presley Tufuga broke his thumb coming off the bench against Bay of Plenty and James Wilson and Isaac Te Tamaki are carrying niggly injuries.
The starting XV contains 11 changes and a further positional switches. Tony Lamborn takes over the captaincy and moves back to the blindside flank while Lewis Ormond, one of three Southland tryscorers on the weekend, moves from left wing to fullback.
Shaun Stodart, Andrew Ready and Chris Apoua make up an allnew front row with Howden partnering SelbyRickit at lock and Bill Fukofuka returning at No 8.
The backline has been fully revamped. Nico Costa gets another start at halfback inside Tayler Adams, who will make his second start. Matt Johnson and Aleki MorrisLome partner each other in midfield and Rory van Vugt and Jackson Ormond get starts on the wing.
Viliami Tosi caps a strong season for Marist and Southland B, coming on to the bench as loose forward cover for the game.
Hewett said the changes were in part about managing workload, along with giving players an opportunity.