Makos named to play Otago at Forsyth Barr Stadium

Former Tasman halfback Kaide Whiting certainly hasn't done his old team-mates any favours.

Now part of Otago's national provincial championship rugby squad after seven previous appearances for Tasman, it was reserve halfback Whiting who scuttled across for Otago's winning bonus-point try against defending premiership champions Taranaki in New Plymouth last Saturday night.

With time up and in appallingly wet conditions at Yarrow Stadium, Whiting struck a significant blow, not only for Otago's championship hopes, but also for the major confidence-boost the team has received ahead of Friday's home clash with the Tasman Makos at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium.

Otago are tough to beat under ordinary circumstances. But on Friday, in front of their zealous home supporters and with Taranaki's scalp freshly tucked away, the Makos are in for one hell of a challenge.

Otago are on a high although the home ground advantage might not be so pronounced with five of Tasman's Friday lineup also part of this year's champion Highlanders Super Rugby set-up.

It'll be a home-coming of sorts for first five-eighth Marty Banks, flanker Shane Christie, lock Joes Wheeler, prop Ross Geldenhuys and reserve fullback Trent Renata, with head coach Kieran Keane also a former member of the Highlanders' coaching staff.

"I  love going back down there now ... it's a far cry from the Carisbrook days," Keane said.

"It's probably one of the nicest places to play, down in the shed. There are a lot of the players looking forward to this and a lot of new boys who are very excited about the opportunity because it is a special place in the fabric of New Zealand rugby.

"It's a great atmosphere and [Otago] are a tough, uncompromising, gritty team."

There are six changes or positional switches to the Makos' starting lineup from last Thursday's win over Manawatu.

Robbie Malneek moves from wing to fullback and Viliami Lolohea onto the wing with Trent Renata on the bench.

Trael Joass earns a start at centre in place of the in-form Kieron Fonotia, while Wheeler has recovered from the septicaemia that precluded his involvement against Manawatu and will lock the scrum with Marco Kotze. The big South African-born lock has also been cleared to play following a head knock last Thursday.

Ross Geldenhuys is back at tighthead prop while Jesse MacDonald replaces big brother Quentin at hooker.

Keane said he was shuffling his options in the front row.

"It's just an opportunity for Jesse and Ross to put their hand up. Jesse deserves a start, although Quentin has done a good job. In Ross's case, it's a chance for him to get back into the top team.

"The locks pick themselves because Alex is out with a niggle and Joe has recovered from a bout of septicaemia." 

Keane said that Joass, Lolohea and Malneek all deserved chances among the starting lineup.

Keane also knows better than most the kind of challenge Otago pose at home, despite Tasman's obvious Highlanders connection.

"I never take a team lightly in this competition and I certainly don't take teams lightly that are at home," he said.

"It's in favour of Otago, being at home and having knocked over the champs, and showing so much grit, coming back from the dead in doing so. That says to me that this team has got a lot of ticker. At home they are going to make it a really tough encounter.

"For me, it is about us turning up mentally for the challenge."

Keane felt confident the team was coping with any mental pressures associated with being at the top of the premiership points table following their three consecutive bonus-point wins.

"It gives us a little bit of momentum, which is a positive but on the downside, it puts a big bulls-eye on your back. If you aren't up for the game mentally you can get undone pretty quickly. 

"Inside the team they are pretty level about what's going on. My role is to just keep an eye on [overconfidence] and to keep them level. We don't want to get ahead of ourselves, that would be foolish.

"We know we have a fair way to go to get to where we want to be. We are not there by any stretch, but we are moving in a good direction."

FACT BOX

TASMAN v OTAGO

WHERE: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin

WHEN: Friday, 7.35pm 

REFEREE: Paul Williams (Taranaki)

HEAD TO HEAD: Played 9, Tasman 2 wins, Otago 6 wins, 1 draw

LAST MATCH: Tasman 32 Otago 24, September 28, 2014 at Nelson's Trafalgar Park

TAB ODDS: Tasman $1.33, Otago $3.10

TASMAN MAKOS: Robbie Malneek, Viliami Lolohea, Trael Joass, David Havili, Mitchell Scott, Marty Banks, Billy Guyton; Liam Squire, Shane Christie, Pete Samu, Joe Wheeler, Marco Kotze, Ross Geldenhuys, Jesse MacDonald, Tim Perry. Reserves: Quentin MacDonald, Suia Halanukonuka, Brock Kaahu, Jeff Lepa, Vernon Fredericks, Jimmy Cowan, Trent Renata, Kieron Fonotia.

OTAGO: Peter Breen, Matt Faddes, Jayden Spence, Teihorangi Walden, Jack Wilson, Fletcher Smith, Josh Renton, Charlie O'Connell, Adam Knight, Josh Dickson, Tom Franklin, Blair Tweed, Hisa Sasagi, Liam Coltman (c), Craig Millar. Reserves: Sam Anderson-Heather, Donald Brighouse, Aki Seiuli, Mikaele Mafi, Naulia Dawai, Kaide Whiting, Sio Tomkinson, Michael Collins.