Brewer recovers from head knock

Te Kawau No 8 Harrison Brewer is over his concussion and and will take his place at the boot of the scrum for the Manawatu Turbos in their pre-season game against Wellington at Otaki on Sunday.

Brewer was knocked out in the Val Holland final against Feilding Old Boys-oroua two weeks ago and hasn’t played since, but is ready to go for Sunday, Manawatu’s second pre-season game this week after they lost 40-33 to Tasman at Porirua on Wednesday.

His return bumps young Brayden Iose to the bench.

Brewer is one of a handful of changes to the team, but coach Jeremy Cotter has opted for many of the same troops from the Tasman game.

Lock Tom Parsons is out of the team altogether and Te Kawau youngster Liam Mitchell gets a start, having got over his ankle injury.

New recruit Sean Paranihi also drops out of the team and is replaced at loosehead prop by Sione Asi and fellow front rower Tuki Raimona, who was unavailable against Tasman, is on the bench. Brice Henderson gets another crack at openside flanker.

Varsity prop Sam Tufuga keeps his place on the bench, but his brother and No 8 Kirk drops out of the team.

The hookers have swapped places, with Tim Cadwallader starting and Hunter Prescott on the bench.

In the backline, Patrick Tafilireid gets his chance to start on the wing, replacing Ambrose Curtis, while the rest of the backs are unchanged, with Jade Te Rure at first five-eighth and Jamie Booth at halfback.

Another notable addition is outside back Newton Tudreu is on the bench, having recovered from his long-term knee injury.

Wellington have named veteran lock and former Turbo Kane Thompson in their side.