Aarin Dunster is set to wind back the clock after the big fella was named on the bench for King Country to play against Poverty Bay in Gisborne on Saturday.

The King Country assistant coach hasn’t featured for the Rams since 2017 after making his debut in 2003, but with some players unavailable due to the Alert Level 3 lockdown in parts of the province, Dunster looks set to dust off the boots for his 110^th cap in the maroon and gold.

It makes for a special moment for the Dunster whanau, as the former Rams skipper could partner his son Cruise in the second row, while his other son Karney misses out this week due to being locked down in Hamilton.

It is a rare feat, with the only other known father-son combination to play in the same first-class fixture in New Zealand being Ron and Kahu Tamatea for Poverty Bay in 2000, while former All Black George Nepia Snr, playing for the Olympians club, faced off against his son George Nepia Jr playing for Poverty Bay in 1950.

At the other end of the experience scale, another special milestone awaits Taumarunui Eels tighthead prop Michael Bryant who is set to make his debut, while Taumarunui Districts’ Yahweh Jhanke, Sefanaia Tataka and Taupo Sports’ Jaxyn Tufala could also make their debuts off the bench.

Dion Petersen gets his first start at openside flanker in place of Karney Dunster following his debut against West Coast on September 25, while Sisa Vosaki once again migrates from the wing to blindside flanker.

With Taupo Sports’ Zayn Tipping unavailable for the rest of the season and Kauri Coffin locked down, John Ika of the Maori Agricultural College club in Hawke’s Bay will start at 10 this week after initially debuting for the Rams in 2019.

Alex Thrupp returns to the midfield to join Baven Brown Jr at centre, who was impressive in his call-up against Whanganui last week, while Josevata Malimole and Kody McGovern shift to the wings and Maximus Dunster drops from 10 to fullback.

Utility back Sio Tapili is the only player to miss selection due to injury after picking up a shoulder injury against Whanganui in Taupo.

The Rams have been severely impacted by the current lockdown scenario that has kept 12 squad members based in the Hamilton City, Otorohanga and Waitomo districts from being selected against Poverty Bay.

However, a small group of players from those areas will play after bunking down in the Taupo district this week to stay in a level two region; these players include Bradly Jeffries, Sam Stewart and Brown Jr.

The King Country Big Horns Development team will play Poverty Bay Development in the curtain-raiser from 12.30pm at Rugby Park in Gisborne, followed by the King Country Rams’ Heartland Championship match against Poverty Bay from 2.30pm.

King Country team to play Poverty Bay: Carl Carmichael (c), Nick Barnes, Mike Bryant, Bradly Jeffries, Cruise Dunster, Sisa Vosaki, Dion Petersen, Reeve Satherley, Nathaniel Smith, John Ika, Josevata Malimole, Alex Thrupp, Baven Brown Jr, Kody McGovern, Maximus Dunster; reserves: Sam Stewart, Joe Curuki, Aarin Dunster, Yahweh Jhanke, Jaxyn Tufala, Jesse Douglas, Sefanaia Tataka.

Article added: Friday 15 October 2021