Otago minus form pair for game tonight
KEY Otago backs Josh Ioane and Vilimoni Koroi have been dropped for tonight’s game against Northland for breaching team protocol.
The pair will attend the match but will not be stripped for the game. The Otago Daily
Times understands they breached the team’s alcohol policy.
Otago coach Tom Donnelly said it was his decision to drop them and simply came down to the players failing to meet team standards.
He declined to say what the duo did and said the decision had been made and it was ‘‘time to move on’’.
Otago will now have to beat Northland without a couple of its most important players. Ioane is the starting first fiveeighth while Koroi is a livewire out the back and is seen as the backup in the No 10 jersey behind Ioane.
Jono Hickey, who is usually a halfback, will start the match at first fiveeighth while Michael Collins, who started at second fiveeighth last week, has moved back to fullback.
Hickey was also selected as he is a goal kicker which Otago
is lacking without Ioane and Koroi.
Matt Whaanga makes his first start of the season and he will team up in the midfield with Josh Timu.
Hickey is yet to start a game at first fiveeighth for Otago but is a versatile player who has plenty of experience.
Harrison Boyle, who has played first fiveeighth, will be in the reserves.
Giovanni Leituala has also been named in the reserves and is a chance to make his firstclass debut should be get on the field.
The forward pack has just the one change with Jamie Mackintosh starting on the loosehead side of the scrum as George Bower is set to head to Australia with the All Blacks.
Northland has moved experienced halfback Sam Nock to the reserves’ bench, while it will be captain’s Jordan Olsen’s 50th