Banks blow for Makos' trip south [Fairfax]
Marty Banks is expected to be sidelined for up to six weeks after a knee injury ruled him out of the Tasman Makos' emerging players' two-match southern tour.
The tour kicks off tomorrow at Glenmark against a Canterbury selection, with Banks already out of contention due to a medial collateral ligament tear, which Tasman's head coach, Kieran Keane, said could put him out of action for five to six weeks.
Tasman are also scheduled to play an Otago selection at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday.
Last year's ITM Cup star No 10 and halfback Billy Guyton were Tasman's only two Super 15 players initially selected to make the trip south, with Guyton now set to rejoin the squad following a recent family bereavement.
Tasman's Chiefs Super 15 representatives Liam Squire, Tom Marshall, James Lowe and Tevita Koloamatangi, and Highlanders Shane Christie and Joe Wheeler, are being rested and will not take part in the tour.
Kieran Fonotia and Tim Perry are still on Super 15 duty with the Crusaders.
Keane was pleased with the condition of the returning Super 15 players, who would now work with strength and conditioning coach Glenn Stewart.
"Our Super 15 guys are good and no big issues there, so that's a pleasing aspect. Some of them need to freshen up and others need a little bit of work."
Keane said that Banks' knee injury was one of several niggles to be considered before naming his starting lineup for tomorrow's Glenmark clash.
Marlborough and Central centre Jake Cresswell had previously been added to the squad as a replacement for Wanderers midfielder Trael Joass who withdrew with a medical complaint.
Marist's English lock Tom Hicks was also added to the tour party to cover recent injury concerns to Makos incumbents Alex Ainley and Tevita Cavubati. Both Ainley and Cavubati took part in the recent Nelson Bays club final.
"We're going to mix and match them," Keane said. "Some of the Marlborough boys are going to play this game and go home . . . They've got a game for Marlborough as well," he said in reference to Sunday's Seddon Shield challenge against West Coast.
Keane said the preparation had been mixed.
"Some of it's been really good and some of the critiquing and reviewing of our game has been really useful . . . and that's been a plus.
"But sometimes we're just not quite getting the boys to the level that we'd like to in terms of physical conditioning. Because [they've been] playing club rugby, their commitments to club rugby doesn't really allow us a lot of time for that individual to be really conditioned for ITM Cup level. So we're a bit behind there, which is a bit concerning.
"There's nothing much I can do about it, so I'm not worrying about it. Club rugby has precedence for a certain time, and then we get a fairly small window to get our selections right."
He said the tour objectives were to resolve some selection issues and to get their game plan in order, with the onus now on the players to put their hands up for ITM Cup selection.
"We don't want to take a player into our squad who's not going to be successful, so there's a bit of a subjective and objective judgment with that in mind.
"It's an open book really, a chance for people to put their hands up, . . . and that's what it's all about. It's a great opportunity for them."
Tomorrow's game kicks off at Glenmark at 3pm.
TASMAN EMERGING PLAYERS: Ben Finau, Fetu Ieremia, Shawn Begg, Jake Cresswell, Tyler Kearns, Willie Umu, Alex Ainley, Sam Aiono, Vernon Fredericks, Ross Geldenhuys, Billy Guyton, Siua Halanukonuka, Tone Ng Shiu, Jesse MacDonald, Quentin MacDonald, Robbie Malneek, Mitchell Scott, Nili Moala, Pete Samu, Michael Wells, David Havili, Jeff Lepa, Tom Hicks, Brandyn Laursen, Ben Tyler, Reuben Northover, Fletcher Matthews.
CANTERBURY EMERGING PLAYERS: Sake Aca, Mitchell Alcock, Nathaniel Apa, Scott Barrett, Ben Corston, Sione Faletou, Kaveinga Finau, Jack Goodhue, Brad Hemapo, Alex Hodgman, Broc Hooper, Milford Keresoma, Tyler Koning, Daniel Lienert-Brown, Josh Manning, Troy Mangan, Brett Mather, Richie Mo'unga, Hamish Munro, Paul Ngaumu, James Owen, Reed Prinsep, William Saukuru, Tom Sanders, James Schrader, Seb Siatiaga, Andy Stead Andy, Jack Stratton, Tepasu Thomas, Aaron Williams, Jake Wood.
- The Marlborough Express
