Another All Black benched
Thu, 09 Oct 2008 08:58
All Black No.8 Rodney So'oialo has joined his captain Richie McCaw in marking his return to the Air New Zealand Cup by getting a replacement role for the Wellington Lions in their quarterfinal showdown with Taranaki in Wellington on Saturday.
McCaw was also benched in the Canterbury team that will face Tasman on Friday.
While the Wellington Lions welcome back one All Black, So'oialo, they are denied another - with prop Neemia Tialata having been ruled out through a knee injury he sustained in the Lions' 21-36 loss to Otago last week, Wellington's only defeat in the regular season.
The good news for the Lions is that John Schwalger will start despite injuring an ankle at Carisbrook.
So'oialo's return has been timely, given that Victor Vito has also been ruled out with a knee injury.
In other key changes fullback Cory Jane and the competition's leading try-scorer Hosea Gear are predictably restored to the back three after being rested last week.
Tamati Ellison returns to the midfield, while Piri Weepu is also back after sitting out the trip south and will start at flyhalf ahead of Daniel Fitzpatrick. Ma'a Nonu, who scored after coming off the replacement bench last week, starts at inside centre - with Tane Tu'ipulotu dropping down to the bench.
Jacob Ellison comes into the squad as the reserve prop, enabling tighthead Anthony Perenise, who was summoned back from his loan spell at Hawke's Bay, to return to Napier and start against Waikato in the final quarterfinal on Sunday.
Ellison has not played since dislocating an elbow on August 15 against Counties-Manukau.
Wellington Lions: 15 Cory Jane, 14 Buxton Popoalii, 13 Tamati Ellison, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Piri Weepu (captain), 9 Alby Mathewson, 8 Thomas Waldrom, 7 Scott Fuglistaller, 6 Chris Masoe, 5 Jeremy Thrush, 4 Ross Filipo, 3 Tim Fairbrother, 2 Dane Coles, 1 John Schwalger.
Replacements: 16 Ged Robinson, 17 Jacob Ellison, 18 Api Naikatini, 19 Rodney So'oialo, 20 Daniel Kirkpatrick, 21 Michael Hobbs, 22 Tane Tu'ipulotu.
Date: Saturday, October 11
Venue: Westpac Stadium Wellington
Kick-off: 17.05 (05.05 GMT)
Referee: Bryce Lawrence
Touch judges: Kelvin Deaker, Josh Noonan
TMO: Keith Brown
