Taranaki look ahead as big changes made
Amidst all the changes Taranaki have made to the side to face Hawke’s Bay in Saturday’s national provincial rugby match, there was a level of expectancy around the absence of captain Charlie Ngatai.
The one-test All Black suffered another knock in last Friday’s Mitre 10 Cup crossover win over Bay of Plenty and was immediately removed from the match before failing a subsequent head injury assessment.
Given Ngatai’s history of concussion problems in the last 18 months, there was no way Taranaki were going to risk him playing in Napier and that was confirmed yesterday.
‘‘With Charlie’s past history of concussion issues, we are being cautious with his recovery and ensuring both he and the medical team are comfortable with his progress,’’ Taranaki coach Colin Cooper said.
‘‘While rugby plays an important part in each player’s life, their personal health and wellbeing, and the wellbeing of their family come first.’’
Taranaki’s ‘‘cautious’’ approach hints that they might not even expect Ngatai to make a return in the coming weeks.
His spot in the backline has been, as expected, taken by Johnny Fa’auli who is just one of six changes to the side that unconvincingly got past Bay of Plenty 29-7 at Yarrow Stadium.
Citing a short turnaround before next Thursday’s match with Tasman, Cooper has given an opportunity to several players who have barely featured this campaign as Taranaki aim to break a losing sequence in Napier that stretches back to 1973.
Halfback Kylem O’Donnell, who impressed off the bench against Bay of Plenty, takes over from Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, while Seta Tamanivalu has been given the week off with Cooper pointing to his busy workload throughout the 2017 season.
O’Donnell will have a new but unfamiliar face outside him after Cooper opted to swap Marty McKenzie and Stephen Perofeta around while Manasa Mataele slots on to the left wing.
There has also been a double change in the second row where globe trotting journeyman Kane Thompson partners Leon Power with Fin Hoeata and Brad Tucker dropping out of the second row.
There’s also a change at openside with Adrian Wyrill afforded the chance to start on the side of the scrum while promising Taranaki Under-19 players Ciarahn Matoe and Tom Florence could make their debuts if given time off the bench.
It’s that bench that also holds interest with Cooper opting for a six-two split with only a couple of backs to call on if needed.
Angus Ta’avao takes over the captaincy from Ngatai.