By: Glenn McLean

New Plymouth Old Boys utility back Daniel Waite has been named to start in the midfield for the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls against Northland after co-captain Teihorangi Walden was ruled out of the remainder of the Mitre 10 Cup.

Walden was carried off the field during last Sunday’s Ranfurly Shield loss to Otago in Inglewood and later scans showed he had ruptured his achilles tendon.

Impressive loose forward Lachlan Boshier and centre Sean Wainui take over the captaincy duties while regular skipper Mitchell Brown continues to recover from a hamstring injury.

Waite, who has featured predominantly at first five-eighth for the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls in recent seasons, is one of several changes to the starting XV for Saturday’s match in Whangarei.

Veteran prop Ben May returns to the front row with Reuben O’Neill switching from tighthead to loosehead while Findlamor Hoeata replaces Tupou Vaa’i who has returned to the All Blacks squad as they prepare to take on Australia.

Loose forward Tom Florence will start at blindside flanker after making a number of strong performances off the bench while Stephen Perofeta moves from fullback into first five-eighth.

That move sees Tukapa’s Jayson Potroz move to fullback while the remainder of the backline remains the same.

On the bench, Lukas Halls and Codey Rei come into the squad while Chiefs No 8 Pita Gus Sowakula makes a welcome return from injury.

Yarrows Taranaki Bulls coach Willie Rickards said there was obvious disappointment in the camp following Sunday’s loss to Otago but they were determined to bounce back quickly against a Northland side which has looked impressive in the early rounds of the Mitre 10 Cup.

“We came back together on Monday and had a good discussion around what has happened and the fact we have to move forward and focus our attention on what lies ahead for us,” he said.

“We are not going to let one loss define our season and our ultimate goals remain the same. We know Northland will be especially tough to face at home and the squad is looking forward to playing a really positive sort of game up there.”

YARROWS TARANAKI BULLS: Jayson Potroz, Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Sean Wainui ©, Daniel Waite, Lewis Ormond, Stephen Perofeta, Lisati Milo-Harris, Kaylum Boshier, Lachlan Boshier ©, Tom Florence, Findlamor Hoeata, Josh Lord, Ben May, Bradley Slater, Reuben O’Neill. Reserves, Ricky Riccitelli, Jared Proffit, Donald Brighouse, Pita Gus Sowakula, Mitchell Crosswell, Kylem O’Donnell, Codey Rei, Lukas Halls.

Article added: Thursday 01 October 2020