Lam changes one for the trip south
Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:52
Auckland coach Pat Lam has made just one enforced change to his line-up to take on Canterbury in their Air New Zealand Cup match in Christchurch on Saturday.
With Taniela Moa in South Africa with the All Blacks and Grayson Hart still suffering the effects of an injury he picked up against Counties-Manukay, 22-year-old University scrumhalf Brenton Helleur will make his starting debut in the No.9 jersey.
Helleur enjoyed 10 minutes play off the bench against Taranaki last week and was particularly pleased to walk off the field alongside older brother Jamie.
"It has been a dream of mine to play for Auckland with Jamie. We played first 15 at Auckland Grammar and for University together, but to play for Auckland with him is amazing," said Helleur.
The former New Zealand Colt missed nearly all of last season with a serious knee injury.
"Definitely the goal of playing for Auckland kept me going. I've been playing rugby for so long to get to Auckland that one injury was not going to keep me out. It made me a lot stronger and hungrier to get there."
A familiar name has been bracketed with Hart as the replacement scrumhalf. Junior Poluleuligaga, who previously played for North Harbour, Manu Samoa, Toulouse and Toulon, will add a wealth of experience to the Auckland squad.
* The most capped player in the 2008 Auckland squad Nick White will play his 100th NPC/Air New Zealand Cup match.
Auckland: 15 Jamie Helleur, 14 Jarek Goebel, 13 Winston Stanley, 12 Ben Atiga, 11 David Smith, 10 Lachie Munro, 9 Brenton Helleur, 8 Peter Saili, 7 Daniel Braid, 6 Kurtis Haiu, 5 Jay Williams, 4 Stanley Haukinima, 3 Charlie Faumuina, 2 Tom McCartney, 1 Paea Fa'anunu.
Replacements: 16 Pauliasi Manu, 17 Nick White, 18 Dean Budd, 19 Onosa'i Auva'a, 20 Grayson Hart/Junior Poluleuligaga, 21 Ash Moeke, 22 Mapa Tuipulotu.
Date: Saturday, August 16
Venue: AMI Stadium, Christchurch
Kick-off: 19.35 (07.35 GMT)
Referee: Chris Pollock
TMO: Josh Noonan
