Strong Tasman lineup named for vital clash with Canterbury
Tasman No 8 Liam Squire returns from suspension to take on Canterbury at Trafalgar Park on Saturday.
There's a definite must-win look to the Tasman Makos' lineup as they attempt to rebound from two consecutive losses in Saturday's crucial national provincial championship rugby match against Canterbury at Trafalgar Park.
With just two rounds of regular season play remaining, Canterbury and Tasman are the only two premiership teams guaranteed semifinal spots. However, Tasman could still finish either first or fourth, meaning there are no guarantees of a home semifinal.
That now lies entirely in Tasman's hands. Two more wins and they'll be hosting a home semifinal, but they arguably have the toughest finish of any of the premiership teams with defending champions Taranaki awaiting them in New Plymouth in the final round.
Chasing the premiership crown was never meant to be easy, and with Canterbury also smarting from last Sunday's narrow loss to Taranaki, the stakes will be even higher in Nelson on Saturday. Add the fact that Tasman have beaten Canterbury in three of their last four encounters, and there's little doubt that Canterbury will be well-primed for what has essentially become a local derby clash.
The Tasman selectors have responded by naming their strongest possible lineup, with No 8 Liam Squire returning from the one-week suspension he incurred against Auckland to again join captain Shane Christie and Pete Samu among Tasman's dynamic loose forward trio. Siua Halanukonuka also replaces Ross Geldenhuys at tighthead prop.
It's one thing to name your best lineup. It's another to have them execute and on that note, the team has been addressing last week's appalling defensive effort when they missed 47 tackles against Counties-Manukau.
"Unfortunately, it's not a situation where I can take them back to [hard training on] Tahuna Beach, which I've done in the past," said Tasman's head coach Kieran Keane.
"While I might have felt like doing that, we haven't. Everybody within the team and management has acknowledged those horrible [defensive] stats, so it is being addressed."
However, Keane said Tasman always relished the opportunity to play Canterbury.
"They are the top dogs now, still little brother-big brother as per usual and it's a challenge that this organisation always looks forward to. We'll be up for this game, there's no doubt about it.
"We are both coming off losses and we are both desperate to do well, so it should make for a really good contest."
He said it was important to be back at home for such a significant match.
"It's nice to be back here - and have a few days to recover. We have just got to shift the momentum back to winning if we are capable of that.
"Our opposition though are a class outfit, threats everywhere, so we are going to have to be on our best behaviour to get into the mixer."
FACT BOX
TASMAN v CANTERBURY
WHERE: Trafalgar Park, Nelson
WHEN: Saturday, 2.35pm
REFEREE: Ben O'Keeffe (Wellington)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 10, Tasman 4 wins, Canterbury 6 wins
LAST MATCH: Tasman 26 Canterbury 6, October 19, 2014 at Nelson's Trafalgar Park (NPC semifinal)
TAB ODDS: Canterbury $1.75, Tasman $2
TASMAN MAKOS: Robbie Malneek, Viliami Lolohea, Kieron Fonotia, David Havili, Kade Poki, Marty Banks, Billy Guyton, Liam Squire, Shane Christie (c), Pete Samu, Joe Wheeler, Alex Ainley, Siua Halanukonuka, Quentin MacDonald, Tim Perry. Reserves: Jesse MacDonald, Kane Hames, Ross Geldenhuys, Marco Kotze, Vernon Fredericks, Jimmy Cowan, Trent Renata, Andrew Goodman.
CANTERBURY (from): Tom Taylor, Johnny McNicholl, Patrick Osborne, Marshall Suckling, Ryan Crotty, Rob Thompson, Cameron McIntyre, Richie Mo'unga, Mitchell Drummond, Jack Stratton, Luke Whitelock (c), Matt Todd, Reed Prinsep, Tom Sanders, Dominic Bird, Mitchell Dunshea, Ben Matwijow, Nepo Laulala, Joe Moody, Siate Tokolahi, Alex Hodgman, Ben Funnell, Ged Robinson.
- Stuff
