Junior Mooloos to face Counties
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 09:49
New Zealand Under-20 representative Trent Renata and openside flank Matt Blain will enjoy their first starts for Waikato when they take on Counties Manukau in a Round Six Air New Zealand Cup match in Hamilton on Sunday.
Renata, 20, will start at first five-eighth (No.10). He has three Waikato caps to his name, but they have all been earned off the reserves bench.
Blain, also 20, will run out in the No.7 jersey for the first time for Waikato. This season he has played off the bench in matches against Manawatu and North Harbour.
Waikato coach Tony Hanks said: "Both Matt and Trent have come through Waikato's high performance programmes and it is fitting that they get the chance to impress this weekend. They are guys who have been around the Waikato squad for the past two years and it is the right time for them to showcase their talents in our starting line-up."
Other changes to Waikato's line up this weekend include, in the forwards, the return of prop Aled de Malmanche, who has recovered from a rib injury, Ole Avei starts at hooker, lock Kent Fife gets the nod to start ahead of Kevin O'Neill who has suffered a niggling shoulder injury this week and loose forward Faifili Levave returns to the starting line-up at No.8.
Ankle injuries to midfielder Jackson Willison and wing Henry Speight have forced changes in the Waikato backline this week with Dwayne Sweeney coming in to play at centre and James Kamana starting on the right wing. Scrumhalf Malcolm Barnes is not considered this week due to a hamstring injury.
"We're obviously pleased to have secured a great win over Auckland last Saturday. But now this Waikato squad are committed to improving further on our performance and we're up for this game. We have a lot of respect for Counties Manukau and we are well aware the past two years have been very close games."
Waikato: 15 Sosene Anesi, 14 James Kamana, 13 Dwayne
Sweeney, 12 Callum Bruce, 11 Tim Mikkelson, 10 Trent Renata, 9 Josh Sutherland, 8 Faifili Levave, 7 Matt Blain, 6 Liam Messam (captain), 5 Kent Fife, 4 Toby Lynn, 3 Toby Smith, 2 Ole Avei, 1 Aled de Malmanche.
Replacements: 16 Vern Kamo, 17 Josh Hohneck, 18 Kevin O'Neill, 19 Jordan Smiler, 20 Tom Harding, 21 David Bason, 22 Roimata Hansell-Pune.
Date: Sunday, September 7
Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Kick-off: 14.35 (02.35 GMT)
Referee: Brent Murray
TMO: Steve Walsh
