New and old faces named for 2016 Makos
Shane Christie will lead the Tasman Makos again in 2016.
An influx of new players, and the absence of former All Black Zac Guildford, are the main talking points following the selection of the Tasman Makos squad for the 2016 national provincial championship.
Coaches Leon MacDonald and Mark Hammett named a well-balanced 32-man squad on Tuesday, boasting a potent mix of experience, youth and an eye to the future.
Among them are 16 Super Rugby players who will form the basis of the starting line-up. Shane Christie, Marty Banks, Billy Guyton, Siosiua Halanukonuka, David Havili, Alex Ainley, Kieron Fonotia, James Lowe, Ross Geldenhuys, Kane Hames, Viliami Lolohea, Mitchell Hunt, Pete Samu, Tevita Koloamatangi and Tim Perry will suit up, balancing the absence of veterans Joe Wheeler, Quentin MacDonald, Robbie Malneek and Jimmy Cowan for this campaign.
Number eight Liam Squire has been named, although he is expected to be tied up with All Blacks duties for most of the provincial season.
The Makos' selectors have also dipped into the Tasman club scene, picking up 14 players who were involved in top of the south club competition.
Players such as Jesse MacDonald, Vernon Fredericks, Jeff Lepa, Trael Joass and Alex Nankivell have already pulled on the Makos jersey, but the selectors have opted for 12 newcomers to Tasman's colours.
Former Wallaby Richard Kingi, Waitohi's Tim O'Malley, former Auckland Colt Josh Tafili, Nelson teen Tima Faingaanuku, Wanderers stand-out Jesse Pitman and Canterbury halfback Finlay Christie bring excitement to the backline division.
Up front, Harlequins rake Andrew Makalio, NZ under-20 lock Quinten Strange, Canterbury prop Blair Prinsep, Marist flanker/lock Shannon Frizell and Stoke prop Tom Hill will add depth and freshness to the forward mix.
Also named, alongside the main Makos squad, are two development players who will train with the team and become injury cover. They are Central flanker Braden Stewart and Nelson loosie Ethan Blackadder.
A notable absentee from the Makos squad is former All Blacks winger Guildford, who signed with Tasman in late May, when he was playing for the New South Wales Waratahs.
A month later 27 year-old Guildford left the Sydney-based franchise, who cited "wellbeing reasons" for the split. Now he is no longer part of the Makos' picture.
Tasman chief executive Tony Lewis read a prepared statement regarding Guildford's non-selection. "The Tasman Rugby Union and the player Zac Guildford have agreed to part ways, meaning he has not been included in the Makos squad for the 2016 Mitre 10 Cup … due to the nature of our agreement with Zac we are unable to comment further on any aspect of this. We wish Zac well for his future endeavours."
Head coach MacDonald said he was happy with the squad he and Hammett had put together. "We have a good mix of experience returning, especially in our forward pack, balanced with some younger players who have shown form during the club season, such as Jesse Pitman, Tima Faingaanuku, Tim O'Malley and Andrew Makalio.
"An eye to the future has probably been a pattern to the selection of some of the younger players. Having said that, we have lost some stalwarts and they will be hard to replace.
"We are happy with our squad. There will be opportunities for guys to force their way into the starting team … hopefully the local guys can put pressure on the returning Super players and create good competition within the squad."
The team will again be led by Shane Christie, with Tim Perry as vice captain.
The Makos, semifinalists in 2015, begin their NPC campaign against Waikato on Sunday, August 21 at Blenheim's Lansdowne Park.
The Tasman Makos 2016 squad: Alex Ainley, Marty Banks, Finlay Christie, Shane Christie, Kieron Fonotia, Vernon Fredericks, Shannon Frizell, Ross Geldenhuys, Billy Guyton, Siosiua Halanukonuka, Kane Hames, David Havili, Tom Hill, Mitchell Hunt, Trael Joass, Richard Kingi, Tevita Koloamatangi, Viliami Lolohea, Jeff Lepa, James Lowe, Jesse MacDonald, Andrew Makalio, Alex Nankivell, Tim O'Malley, Tim Perry, Blair Prinsep, Peter Samu, Liam Squire, Quinten Strange, Josh Tafili, Tima Faingaanuku, Jesse Pitman.
Development players who will train with the squad as injury cover: Ethan Blackadder, Braden Stewart.
