Lock Ainley to hit 50 against Waikato
It will take a history-making performance by the Tasman Makos if lock Alex Ainley is to celebrate his 50th game for the province in the appropriate manner.
The 32-year-old lock becomes the third player this season to reach the 50-match milestone when the Makos host ITM Cup premiership team Waikato at Trafalgar Park tomorrow night.
Ainley's locking partner Joe Wheeler and hooker Quentin MacDonald have achieved the mark over the past few weeks, although Tasman will need to overcome the hurdle of never having recorded three consecutive wins when they attempt to secure their sixth win of the season tomorrow and remain at the top of the championship points table.
Their previous two wins, against Hawkes Bay and Northland, have again given them the opportunity to finally break the spell - something that's eluded them several times over the past few seasons.
Ainley's 50th will hopefully add to the team's motivation tomorrow, although it's taken longer than usual for the experienced lock to become Tasman's seventh half-centurion.
He returned to Tasman this year after three seasons playing club rugby for the Mitsubishi Dynaboars in Japan, having debuted in Tasman's inaugural ITM Cup match, against North Harbour in 2006. He'd amassed 42 games for the province by the time he departed for Japan at the end of the 2009 season.
Meanwhile, coaches Kieran Keane and Leon MacDonald have made some adjustments to tomorrow's lineup. MacDonald, Tim Perry and Sila Puafisi predictably return as the starting front row, with Tevita Koloamatangi in at No 6 and Liam Squire at No 8.
MacDonald has been cleared to play after receiving an off-field yellow card when he was cited for a dangerous tackle on Northland first five-eighth Dan Hawkins following last Thursday's match in Whangarei. Judicial officer Roger Drummond said the offence was at the lower end of the scale, and taking into account MacDonald's clean judicial record, he deemed an off-field yellow card appropriate for the offence.
Billy Guyton has retained his place at halfback and will again link up with his Waimea Old Boys clubmate Marty Banks as the inside back combination, Banks having starred in the win over Northland with his record-breaking 28-point contribution.
Wing Mitchell Scott has also been rewarded for his incisive running against Northland with a start on the right wing ahead of Bryce Heem.
According to Keane, the team is preparing for some old-fashioned hard work against a traditionally tough opponent. "We're just going to roll our sleeves up," he said.
Just as Wheeler and MacDonald got to celebrate their special occasions with wins, Keane hoped that the players would also respond in similar fashion for Ainley.
"It's his 50th, and we wish him well for that milestone. Obviously it's a nice time for him, but we'd like to think we've got some big fish to fry. We want to have a go at Waikato."
Keane said the team had thoroughly reviewed what he described as an "untidy" performance against Northland, and the players were continuing to learn important lessons.
"I think we're in a good space. Everybody's in good fettle and there's a bit of bounce in their steps, so things are going along resonably well."
Waikato's depth is certainly being tested, with Toby Smith, Ben Tameifuna, Sean Hohneck, Brian Alainu'uese, Rory Grice, Adam Burn, Wharenui Hawera, Jackson Willison and Joe Perawiti all either out with injuries or, in the case of Smith, on the bench with niggling injuries.
Tim Mikkelson and Joe Webber have gone to the New Zealand Sevens training camp, and hooker Brayden Mitchell is being rested.
Nineteen-year-old Falelima Siinei gets his first start at second five-eighth, and into the starting XV comes an all-new front row of Latu Talakai, Vance Elliott and Paul Alo-Emile. Loose forward Whetu Douglas will start at lock, and Zane Kapeli comes in for his first cap at blindside flanker. Jono Armstrong takes over at No 8, and Mick Snowden at halfback, Dylan Collier at centre and halfback Kylem O'Donnell on the right wing.
Trent Renata becomes the fourth Waikato captain this season with Smith on the bench.
"We've been bloody lucky with injuries to this point, and the week when we really didn't need them, we've got them," Waikato coach John Walters said.
"We think that is the best mix to take down to Tasman and win, rather than taking a whole lot of guys who have been battered."
MATCH FACTS
WHAT: Tasman v Waikato WHERE: Trafalgar Park, Nelson WHEN: Tomorrow, 7.35pm REFEREE: Mike Fraser (Wellington) HEAD-TO-HEAD: Played 6 (2007-2012), Waikato 4 wins, Tasman 2 wins
LAST MATCH: Waikato 20 Tasman 19, Waikato Stadium, Hamilton, September 27, 2012 TASMAN MAKOS: Robbie Malneek, Mitchell Scott, Kieron Fonotia, Tom Marshall, James Lowe, Marty Banks, Billy Guyton, Liam Squire, Shane Christie (captain), Tevita Koloamatangi, Joe Wheeler, Alex Ainley, Sila Puafisi, Quentin MacDonald, Tim Perry. Reserves: Francis Smith, Siua Halanukonuka, Tevita Cavubati, George Stowers, Mark Swanepoel, Andy Symons, Bryce Heem.
WAIKATO: Trent Renata (captain), Kylem O'Donnell, Dylan Collier, Falelima Siinei, Semisi Masirewa, Sam Christie, Mick Snowden, Jono Armstrong, Zak Hohneck, Zane Kapeli, Sam Kilgour, Whetu Douglas, Paul Alo-Emile, Vance Elliott, Latu Talakai. Reserves: Hame Faiva, Toby Smith, Josh Tyrell, Nick Ross, Brad Weber, Save Tokula, Niko Malo.
- © Fairfax NZ News
