Stags seeking 80-minute showing
There’s nothing quite like home. The Southland Stags will line up in their first home game of the Mitre 10 Cup season tonight when they play North Harbour in Invercargill.
The fixture comes five days after their round one 24-16 loss to Hawke’s Bay in Napier in a game which they led 13-3 at halftime.
It’s been a frantic week of swot for the Stags players as they look for a performance closer to 80 minutes than the 40-odd minutes of dominance they showed in Napier.
Southland captain Brayden Mitchell felt there was a lot to like from their opening game, however the message this week is to hang tough throughout the entire game and ensure they take their opportunities.
There is a feeling a win early in the season would do the young and enthusiastic bunch wonders, and the hope is an outing at Rugby Park will provide the tonic needed to spark an upset victory.
‘‘It’s good to be back at home playing at Rugby Park,’’ Mitchell said.
‘‘Hopefully there will be a big crowd, it definitely helps when there is a good crowd, it’s like having another player.’’
The Stags have made three changes to the team which started against Hawke’s Bay last Saturday.
Traditional loose forward Bill Fukofuka has been brought off the bench to start at lock against North Harbour. It will provide the Stags pack with another direct ball carrier and an abrasive type player in the second row.
It means Manaaki Selby-Rickit shuffles to the bench.
After lining up for the Southland B team on Saturday loose forward Tupou Sopoaga has been included on the bench with Tepasu Thomas dropping out of the 23.
Liam Howley has recovered from an ankle injury and slots in to start at halfback with teenager Jay Renton, who impressed in his debut against Hawke’s Bay, moving to the bench.
It will be Howley’s first Mitre 10 Cup game since 2015 after he missed the entire 2016 season because of a knee injury.
Neria Fomai, who suffered a sickening head knock in the first five minutes against Hawke’s Bay, has been replaced in the midfield by James Schrader.
Outside back Mike Molloy returns from injury but will start from the bench tonight with usual midfielder Aleki Morris retaining his spot on the left wing and Greg Dyer dropping out of the 23.
Interestingly Junior Ngaluafe again cannot find a spot in the Stags 23 despite starting in every game at fullback last season.
It seems Ngaluafe has fallen out of favour with the Stags selectors.
While the Stags have had a short turnaround from their last game on Saturday, North Harbour have had the full week to recover and prepare after they recorded a 19-17 win over Otago last Thursday night.
Champion Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall missed the first round win over Otago but has returned for the trip to Invercargill and will start at halfback.
North Harbour have been promoted from the Premiership division this year after winning last season’s Championship division.
They have managed to bolster some positions in the off-season which included the signing of talented fullback Shaun Stevenson and former Highlanders lock Jarred Hoeata.
Tonight’s game starts at 7.35pm.