Makos named to play Bay of Plenty
Marco Kotze, left, will join forces with Joe Wheeler in the Tasman Makos' engine room on Friday.
The Tasman Makos have made three changes to their starting line-up for Friday's national provincial championship rugby match against Bay of Plenty in Nelson.
The only change in the forwards sees South African lock Marco Kotze earn his first NPC start in place of Alex Ainley, the grizzled campaigner troubled by the flu during the early part of the week. Ainley moves to the bench.
The other two changes are in the outside back division. Left winger Trael Joass is out with a shoulder injury, being replaced by Mitchell Scott who scored a brace of tries for the Tasman Red Devils against Buller on Saturday. Long-serving fullback Robbie Malneek makes way for Trent Renata, the Highlanders utility given another chance after a muddled display against Wellington pre-season.
Head coach Kieran Keane views the team changes as opportunities for the chosen players to put their hands up.
"Marco [Kotze] is a bit of a find for us. He can play a tight lock game and he can also be an aerial lock. He's got some good natural skills, and some grunt. He's fitted in really well with the team.
"Mitchell [Scott] gets a chance to try and cement a place ... and it's the same with Trent [Renata]. He deserves an opportunity too. We want to create some competition within the squad ... there are no favourites, it's all form-related."
After their patchy 35-20 win over Waikato in Hamilton last week the Makos have knuckled down at training as they prepare to meet a relatively-inexperienced Steamers outfit.
"We have been trying to iron out a few things at training," said Keane. "We spent a little bit of time on the detail of our game, which is missing at present. We've had to contend with the weather [during training] but are anticipating it being fine and dry on Friday night.
"We are really happy about playing at home. It would be nice to take a step up with our game and there is a lot of good positive chat going on at trainings. And an awareness that we haven't quite gelled yet ... it's nice that everybody's on the same page."
Bay of Plenty have provided some headaches for Tasman in the past, the win/loss record standing at 4-3 in the North Islanders' favour since 2006. Last year the Makos prevailed 56-27 in Tauranga, their biggest win over the Steamers, but coach Keane doesn't expect a similar scoreline on Friday.
"Bay of Plenty have our utmost respect ... we have taken cognizance of certain things they do but we are putting more emphasis on our own game at the present.
"I'd like to see us make gains in the structure of our game on both attack and defence. I'd also like to see a certain degree of attitude adjustment, players owning their own job. That's essentially what we have been focusing on this week."
New Bay of Plenty coach Clayton MacMillan is not afraid of making sweeping changes, selecting nine debutants for the Steamers' first match, a 20-11 win over North Harbour at Tauranga on Friday.
His team for Friday had not been released at the time of publication, but is expected to be similar to last week's side.
MacMillan has plenty of talent to call on, including rugged flanker Johan Bardoul, who was outstanding for the Chiefs in Super Rugby. Lock Culum Retallick is by far their most experienced player, with 83 caps, and represented the Blues during Super Rugby.
Elusive winger Chase Tiatia scored two tries in the opening round and is a player to watch, as is fellow winger Tino Nemani.
Unfortunately for the Steamers, their two current All Blacks won't be suiting up in Nelson. Loosie Sam Cane has been released to play the Steamers' next game but won't be available for Friday's clash, while Brodie Retallick, who has yet to play for the Steamers, is resting after a heavy international schedule.
There is expected to be an All Black on show though. Bay of Plenty hooker Nathan Harris, who made his debut for the ABs against Argentina last year and was tipped to go on the European tour before being injured, will likely wear the number two jersey.
Keane is hoping for plenty of support as his players prepare for their 2015 NPC debut on home soil. "We are anticipating a good crowd," he added. "We hope the people and the fans come along - it always helps our team. We like playing at home, whether in Nelson or Marlborough. Home is where the heart is."
While the Makos will start as firm favourites for this match, given the imbalance in top level experience between the sides, they will be wary of a Steamers combination with plenty of rising stars and nothing to lose. If the home side can bank another five points it will represent a flying start to their campaign, but there is plenty of hard work to be done at Trafalgar Park before that happens.
INFO BOX
What: Tasman v Bay of Plenty
When, where: Trafalgar Park, Nelson; kickoff 7.35pm, Friday
Referee: Nick Briant
Last meeting: Tasman 56 Bay of Plenty 27 (Mount Maunganui, 2014)
First round results
Tasman: beat Waikato 35-20
Bay of Plenty: beat North Harbour 20-11
Tasman Makos: Trent Renata, Monty Ioane, Kieron Fonotia, David Havili, Mitchell Scott, Marty Banks, Billy Guyton; Liam Squire, Shane Christie, Pete Samu, Joe Wheeler, Marco Kotze, Ross Geldenhuys, Quentin MacDonald, Tim Perry. Reserves: Jesse MacDonald, Siua Halanukonuka, Jake Stafford-Wood, Alex Ainley, Jeff Lepa, Jimmy Cowan, Robbie Malneek, Alex Nankivell.
