Changes bolster Old Golds pack

Barry Stevens.
Barry Stevens.
North Otago has made changes to its team for the game under the roof this afternoon.

The North Otago side will take on Horowhenua-Kapiti at Forsyth Barr Stadium in what looms as a pivotal clash.

North Otago selectors Barry Stevens and Nigel Walsh have made the changes after an average display against Thames Valley in Oamaru last Saturday.

"In the front row, Robbie Richardson, who is  a good scrummager and works hard around the field, comes into the loosehead.  We wanted to give him an opportunity," Stevens said.

"With Ralph [Darling] as our captain it was an opportunity to move him into hooker and give Joe [Pickett] a rest. As far as the locks are concerned, Harvard Fale comes in as a reward for the good work he’s done in the development side and he just gives us a wee bit more height in the lineout as well.

"He’s a good ball player in the air so gives us more options at lineout time. Filipo Veamatahau is 100% now and he’ll start on the openside flank and, with Fale coming in, it gives us an opportunity to shift Sione Misiloi back from lock to eight and move Lucas Goodin to six.

"It just sort of bolsters the forward pack against Horowhenua Kapiti which is a big side."

Horowhenua-Kapiti and North Otago will bring similar playing backgrounds into the match, having won one and lost one so far.

Both teams beat Thames Valley — Horowhenua-Kapiti (34-30) and North Otago (30-22).Horowhenua-Kapiti coach Chris Wilton has taken over the head role this season after being assistant coach in the past.

"I’ve been involved in coaching since 2001. In that year, Dane Coles was at secondary school here ... [I’ve] been assistant coach for the past two seasons," he said.

Horowhenua-Kapiti has a solid pack led by lock Ryan Shelford with 62 games under his belt and backed up by fellow lock William Lander and tighthead prop Scott Cameron.

The side will start with an interesting inside back combination in halfback Rawiri Broughton and sevens star Warwick Lahmert.

"This will be only Warwick’s second game of 15-a-side rugby in three years. He has spent those last three years playing sevens rugby for England  and was unfortunate to miss out on the  Olympic side. A Waikanae boy, he’s decided to come home."

Wilton has a real appreciation for Heartland rugby.

"It is great rugby. The props look like props and the wingers look like wingers. It involves a bit of sacrifice."

In the third round of Heartland this afternoon, the match of the day will be in Wanganui where the home side will meet the only other unbeaten side, South Canterbury.

At Greymouth, the two bottom teams will clash, when West Coast takes on East Coast.

Third-placed King Country will travel to Paeroa to play Thames Valley,  in 10th place, while sixth-placed Poverty Bay will face eighth-placed Buller, in Gisborne. Fourth-placed Mid Canterbury will play seventh-placed Wairarapa-Bush, with only one point separating the two sides.

- Terry O'Neill

 

Nth Otago v Horo-Kapiti 
FB Stadium, today, 2.05pm

North Otago: Craig Smith, Simon Lilicama, Shae Tucker, Lemi Masoe, Siosuia Ngalo, Josh Casey, Robbie Smith, Sione Misiloi, Filipo Veamatahau, Harvard Fale, Jared Whitburn, Lucas Goodin, Dan Fowler, Ralph Darling(c), Robbie Richardson.

Reserves: Joe Pickett, Meli Kolinisau, Maene Mapusaga, Marcus Balchin, Tyron Davies, Oscar Pamment, Matthew Vocea.

Horowhenua-Kapiti: Michael Tambour, Tausani Ulu-kini, Ethan Pollock, Luke Harvey, Willie Paia’aua, Warwick Lahmert, Rawiri Broughton, Tyson Maki, Nathan Kendrick, Aaron Lahmert, William Lander, Ryan Shelford (captain), Scott Cameron, David McErlean, Fa’afoi Ioapo.Reserves: Tryone Rerekura, Rahiri Connor-Johnston, Bronson Heihei, Louie Tovo, Andrew Lima, Clayton Winiata, Shai Wiperi.

Referee: Richard Gordon

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