Waikato NPC have announced their match day 23 to travel north to face the Northland Taniwha at Semenoff Stadium in week 2 of the Bunnings National Provincial Championship on Saturday afternoon.

Head coach, Ross Filipo, has made eight changes to his match day 23 that drew with Hawke’s Bay Magpies last weekend.

In the front row both co-captain, Ayden Johnstone and Rhys Marshall, retain their spots and are joined by Sefo Kautai, who comes off the bench to start at tighthead prop trading places with George Dyer.

There is a new second row combinations with Laghlan McWhannell being promoted from the reserves to start along side Samipeni Finau, who earns his first start of the season. McWhannell promotion to the starting XV means Hamilton Burr moves to the reserves to provide impact from the bench.

There is a new loose forward trio, co-captain Mitch Jacobson retains his place at openside flanker  and is joined by rookie, Patrick McCurran, who has been named at blindside flanker and will make Waikato debut and Jack Lam, who comes off the bench to start at number eight.

In the backs, Cortez Ratima replaces Xavier Roe at halfback joining Damian McKenzie in the halves.

D’Angelo Leuila hold on to his position of inside centre but this week he is joined in the midfield by last week Waikato debutant, Alapati Leiua, who will start outside him at outside centre. Leiua inclusion means Bailyn Sullivan moves to the reserves for this match.

The final changes to the starting XV are in the outside backs, Daniel Sinkinson remains on the left wing and Liam Coombes-Fabling moves back to fullback allowing Mosese Dawai to start on the right wing.

In the reserves Pita Anae-Ah Sue and Tana Tuhakaraina both have a chance to make their Waikato debuts while Te Rama Reuben and Rhys Dickson both come onto the bench and have a chance to add to their Waikato caps tally.

Waikato take on Northland Taniwha at Semenoff Stadium, Whangarei on Saturday afternoon, kick-off is at 4.35pm:

1.    Ayden Johnstone (Hautapu) – Co-Captain

2.    Rhys Marshall

3.    Sefo Kautai (Hamilton Marist)

4.    Laghlan McWhannell (Hautapu)

5.    Samipeni Finau (Hamilton Old Boys)

6.    Patrick McCurran (Fraser Tech)*

7.    Mitch Jacobson (Hautapu) – Co-Captain

8.    Jack Lam (Hamilton Marist)

9.    Cortez Ratima (Otorohanga)

10.  Damian McKenzie (University)

11.  Daniel Sinkinson (Melville)

12.  D’Angelo Leuila (Fraser Tech)

13.  Alapati Leiua

14.  Mosese Dawai (Otorohanga)

15.  Liam Coombes-Fabling (Fraser Tech)

16.  Pita Anae Ah-Sue (Southern United)*

17.  Rob Cobb (Hamilton Old Boys)

18.  George Dyer (Fraser Tech)

19.  Hamilton Burr (Hautapu)

20.  Te Rama Reuben (University)

21.  Rhys Dickinson (Fraser Tech)

22.  Bailyn Sullivan (Hamilton Marist)

23.  Tana Tuhakaraina (United Matamata Sports)*

* = Debut

Article added: Friday 12 August 2022