OtagoWellington ‘friendly’ now on Sunday Southerners join Moana Pasifika

THE Otago team will have to navigate a shorter turnaround before its next competition game.

This weekend’s friendly against Wellington has been pushed back a day.

The game will kick off at 1.05pm on Sunday at Forsyth Barr Stadium, rather than on Saturday afternoon.

It gives Otago one less day to recover and prepare for its final NPC game, against Waikato in Hamilton next Friday.

That comes as a result of the flowon effects of the postponed game between Bay of Plenty and Northland.

Originally scheduled for last Sunday, it has reportedly been rescheduled for Wednesday next week following the death of Bay of Plenty winger Sean Wainui.

To accommodate the tight turnaround, Northland’s game against Southland — which was to be played on Sunday — will now be played at 2.05pm on Saturday.

That was the timeslot originally set down for Otago’s game against Wellington.

The competition moves to semifinals following next weekend’s final round.

Otago is third with a sevenpoint buffer over Northland, leaving it likely to face Manawatu in Palmerston North in its semifinal.

It could slip to fourth, if Northland wins its final two matches and Otago loses to Waikato.

Taranaki remains unbeaten and has secured top spot in the Championship.

THERE will be a strong southern influence in Moana Pasifika’s second row next year.

Don Lolo and Mike McKee have signed for one of Super Rugby’s two new franchises.

They join Manawatu lock Veikoso Poloniati in the latest trio of signings for the team.

Lolo’s signing completes one of the most unlikely rises to Super Rugby in the modern era.

He made his debut for Tonga earlier in the year, coming out of Dunedin club rugby to face the All Blacks.

The Taieri lock came through Waitaki Boys’ High School and has played 11 Heartland Championship matches for North Otago and South Canterbury.

McKee is the first player of Cook Islands heritage to be named in the squad.

A mainstay of the Southland forward pack, he has played 42 times for the Stags since 2015 and had a stint with CountiesManukau in 2018.

The 28yearold attended Otago Boys’ High School, where he transitioned from a utility back to a lock, before turning out for Taieri.

Poloniati also has a link to the South Island, having played for South Canterbury.

Hawke’s Bay duo Lolagi Visinia and Danny Toala were also announced yesterday as new signings for the team.