Mako team named to play Wellington
The "Situation vacant – flankers required” sign hasn’t gone up outside Tasman rugby headquarters yet, but it can’t be far away.
BY PETER JONES [Marlborough App]
The Mako’s loose forward woes continued last week with injuries to open siders Jed Brown, who suffered a head knock, and Sione Havili, whose season was ended during the warm-up by a ruptured Achilles tendon.
After losing three first choice loosies - Liam Squire, Shannon Frizell and Jordan Taufua - to All Blacks commitments plus, in Taufua’s case, injury at the start of the Mako campaign, No 8 Vernon Fredericks injured his shoulder in the first game, then his replacement Isaiah Miller did his knee the following week.
Anty Burnett, a logical replacement after a strong club season, is also out with long-term injury, while 2017 Mako Braden Stewart is battling back from injury.
Now Brown and Havili’s misfortune means head coach Leon MacDonald and his fellow selectors have had to do without nine top-line flankers so far this season.
The arrival of talented Aucklanders Taina Fox-Matamua and John Akauolo-Laula has helped the situation but, with the transfer window now closed, locally-based talent is required.
For Saturday’s 7.35pm Mitre 10 Cup clash with Wellington at the Caketin the selectors have called on promising Marist No 7 Jacob Norris, who played in the Mako High Performance XV pre-season. Formerly from Waikato, Norris headed south this season and has been playing for the Mako B team.
He will join the durable Ethan Blackadder and Fox-Matamua in the loose forward mix to take on the Lions.
MacDonald said that while they "didn’t have a lot of options in the loose forward area at the moment” he was hoping to regain the services of Brown, and perhaps Stewart, in the coming weeks.
Also of concern to the selectors in the pack is the fitness of key lock Pari Pari Parkinson, who injured his ankle during Sunday’s 21-19 win over Counties Manukau. He has been named in the starting side but is still under an injury cloud. If he doesn’t recover sufficiently Akauolo-Laula will replace him, with Mike Curry coming onto the bench. Veteran lock Alex Ainley is still unavailable, battling a series of injuries.
In the only other changes for Saturday, hooker Andrew Makalio returns to the starting line-up, while Solomon Alaimalo comes back onto the left wing after sitting out Sunday’s clash.
Despite the on-going battle to field a familiar loose forward trio, MacDonald is upbeat about the coming encounter with Wellington, a team he rates highly.
"There seems to be a bit of an edge around the team this week around producing a good performance … they weren’t happy with the way they went on Sunday. It has been good having a full week to prepare after such a torrid three games.
"Wellington bring a massive amount of line speed, with big ball carriers who eat up metres and every team has struggled to contain them. They have scored a lot more points than anyone else in the competition so they present a different challenge for us. Our defence will really have to be on song.”
Tasman: 1 Wyatt Crockett, 2 Andrew Makalio, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 4 Pari Pari Parkinson, 5 Quinten Strange, 6 Ethan Blackadder, 7 Jacob Norris, 8 Taina Fox-Matamua; 9 Finlay Christie, 10 Mitchell Hunt, 11 Solomon Alaimalo, 12 David Havili (captain), 13 Levi Aumua, 14 Tima Faingaanuku, 15 Will Jordan.
Substitutes: 16 Ray Niuia, 17 Ryan Coxon, 18 Blair Prinsep, 19. John Akauolo-Laula, 20 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 21 Jack Grooby, 22 Tim O’Malley, 23 Alex Nankivell.
Wellington (possible): 15 Wes Goosen, 14 Losi Filipo, 13 Matt Proctor, 12 Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 9 Kemara Hauiti-Parapara; 8 Thomas Waldrom, Mateaki Kafatolu, 6 Galu Taufale, 5 Isaia Walker-Leawere, 4 James Blackwell, 3 Jeff To'omaga-Allen, 2 Asafo Aumua, 1 Tolu Fahamokioa.
Reserves: 16 James O'Reilly, 17 Xavier Numia, 18 Joel Hintz, 19 Will Mangos, 20 Greg Foe, 21 Sheridan Rangihuna, 22 Peter Umaga-Jensen, 23 Trent Renata.
