MEDIA RELEASE
26 July 2019

All Black Waisake Naholo returns to the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls in the side’s second pre-season match against Auckland in Te Awamutu on Saturday.

Head coach Willie Rickards named Naholo on the wing, after making several changes to the side that beat Manawatu in Hawera last Friday night 33-12.

Naholo’s last match for Taranaki was in the 2017 Ranfurly Shield match against Manawatu where he scored two tries.

Given the nature of pre-season, Rickards has opted to make some changes to the backline. Jackson Ormond moves from fullback to wing, to allow Jayson Potroz to start at the back. Lukas Halls has been named in the midfield with Brayton Northcott-Hill.

Halfback Lisate Milo-Harris and first five-eighth Daniel Waite retain their positions from last week after strong performances.

In the forwards, several Super Rugby players return from their commitments, including captain and lock Mitchell Brown. Heiden Bedwell-Curtis will play his first match for Taranaki since 2012, flanker Lachlan Boshier and No 8 Pita Gus Sowakula make a start for the Bulls forming a strong loose forward trio.    

Rickards as opted for an 11-man bench, which includes several players from last weekend’s match.

He said the pre-season gives him an opportunity to experiment with different combinations before the start if the Mitre 10 Cup.

Kick off is at 1:30pm and entry is free.

Yarrows Taranaki v Auckland, Te Awamutu Sports, 1:30pm

1. Reuben O’Neill (NPOB)
2. Bradley Slater (NPOB)
3. Kyle Stewart (Stratford/Eltham)
4. Tupou Vaa’I (NPOB)
5. Mitchell Brown (Inglewood) (c)
6. Heiden Bedwell-Curtis (Inglewood)
7. Lachlan Boshier (NPOB)
8. Pita Gus Sowakula (Spotswood United)
9. Lisati Milo-Harris (Inglewood)
10. Daniel Waite (NPOB)
11. Jackson Ormond (Southern)
12. Braydon Northcott-Hill (NPOB
13. Lukas Halls (Tukapa)
14. Waisake Naholo (Spotswood United)
15. Jayson Potroz (Tukapa)
    Reserves:
16. Scott Mellow (Tukapa)
17. Jared Proffit (Spotswood United)
18. Chris Gawler (Coastal)
19. Leighton Price (Tukapa)
20. Kaylum Boshier (NPOB)
21. Warwick Lahmert (Spotswood United)
22. Josh Setu (Clifton)
23. Liam Blyde (Clifton)
24. Josh Lord (Coastal)
25. Alex Kauvalu (Coastal)
26. Jack White (Inglewood)

-ENDS-

For further information, please contact;
Will Johnston
TRFU Communications Advisor
will@trfu.co.nz
027 348 3831

Article added: Friday 26 July 2019