Counties v Tasman
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All Blacks Nepo Laulala and Dalton Papali’i as well as World Cup winning former All Black skipper Kieran Read have been named in the Counties Manukau PIC Steelers side for their opening Mitre 10 Cup match against Ta$man on Saturday night.
The three international stars will help form a near full-strength PIC Steelers outfit for coach Tai Lavea’s first game in charge.
Co-captains Lyndon Dunshea and Orbyn Leger have been named at lock and second-five respectively while impressive Ardmore Marist hooker Zuriel Togiatama gets first crack at the number two jersey with Chiefs squad member Donald Maka (concussion) out injured.
Bombay’s McNamara Cup-winning hooker Shaun Muir has this week been brought into the side as injury cover in the hooking position and has been named to come off the bench.
Veteran lock Matiaha Martin returns in the second row having missed all of last season with injury while experienced first-five Baden Kerr has been named to start in what will be his third stint with the province.
All Blacks Sevens star Sione Molia gets the nod at centre while Etene Nanai-Seturo gets first opportunity to play fullback.
For 128-test All Black Read it will be the first competition game he has played in the PIC Steelers jersey despite growing up in the region and supporting the province as a youngster.
“It is full circle for me, coming back here to play in front of a few fans that can turn up in Pukekohe here so I can’t wait,” Read said.
“I am some kind of minutes alert so they will get me as much as I can go and we have some good guys on the bench ready to come on.
“ Ta$man are going to be impressive so we need to come out and start well I think and put them under as much pressure as we can.
“It is good to get them early and a good test for us. We are looking forward to it.”
The PIC Steelers will face a stern test in the form of the reigning Mitre 10 Cup champion Ta$man Mako$, who will bring a star-studded side north to Navigation Homes Stadium.
Bubbles of 100 people will be in attendance for the 7.05pm game.
Counties Manukau PIC Steelers: 1. Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 2. Zuriel Togiatama, 3. Nepo Laulala, 4. Matiaha Martin, 5. Lyndon Dunshea (capt), 6. Sam Slade, 7. Dalton Papali’i, 8. Kieran Read, 9. Jonathan Taumateine, 10. Baden Kerr, 11. Kalione Hala, 12. Orbyn Leger (capt), 13. Sione Molia, 14. Kiris Kuridrani, 15. Etene Nanai-Seturo. Reserves: Shaun Muir, Clinton Malolua, Conan O’Donnell, Potu Leavasa, Viliame Taulani, Johnny Kawau, Pele Cowley, Luteru Laulala.
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@Higgins said in Counties v Ta$man:
@Crucial It can't be. The HB Leavasa would be in his mid to late forties now.
that's alright, very former BOP halfback Remeka Poihipi is now playing 12 for Canterbury
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1 Isi Tu'ungafasi, 2 Andrew Makalio, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 4 Alex Ainley, 5 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 6 Shannon Frizell, 7 Sione Havillu, 8 Hugh Renton, 9 Finlay Christie, 10 Mitch Hunt (c), 11 Mark Telea, 12 Alex Nankivell, 13 Leicester Fainga'anuku, 14 Sevu Reece, 15 Will Jordan
Reserves: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Kershawl Sykes Martin, 18 Isaac Salmon, 19 Moni Ngakuru, 20 Jacob Norris, 21 Dwayne Polataivao, 22 Tim O’Malley, 23 Fetuli Paea
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@mariner4life said in Counties v Ta$man:
@Higgins said in Counties v Ta$man:
@Crucial It can't be. The HB Leavasa would be in his mid to late forties now.
that's alright, very former BOP halfback Remeka Poihipi is now playing 12 for Canterbury
HaHAHA
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@Duluth said in Counties v Ta$man:
1 Isi Tu'ungafasi, 2 Andrew Makalio, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 4 Alex Ainley, 5 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 6 Shannon Frizell, 7 Sione Havillu, 8 Hugh Renton, 9 Finlay Christie, 10 Mitch Hunt (c), 11 Mark Telea, 12 Alex Nankivell, 13 Leicester Fainga'anuku, 14 Sevu Reece, 15 Will Jordan
Reserves: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Kershawl Sykes Martin, 18 Isaac Salmon, 19 Moni Ngakuru, 20 Jacob Norris, 21 Dwayne Polataivao, 22 Tim O’Malley, 23 Fetuli Paea
Tasmanchester United didn't even have the decency to name a single local in the starting pack. They did name like two in the backline though
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@Duluth said in Counties v Ta$man:
1 Isi Tu'ungafasi, 2 Andrew Makalio, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 4 Alex Ainley, 5 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 6 Shannon Frizell, 7 Sione Havillu, 8 Hugh Renton, 9 Finlay Christie, 10 Mitch Hunt (c), 11 Mark Telea, 12 Alex Nankivell, 13 Leicester Fainga'anuku, 14 Sevu Reece, 15 Will Jordan
Reserves: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Kershawl Sykes Martin, 18 Isaac Salmon, 19 Moni Ngakuru, 20 Jacob Norris, 21 Dwayne Polataivao, 22 Tim O’Malley, 23 Fetuli Paea
Backline quite good.
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@Chris-B said in Counties v Ta$man:
Mako forwards not looking as formidable this year, especially with Parkinson, Strange and Blackadder all out injured.
I would have started Fetuli Paea ahead of Big Leicester in the centres.
Missing David Havili, but we
havebought good cover for him!FIFY
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Very organised Maul..very hard to stop, unless your Canterbury or the Crusaders ..Counties need to hold on to some ball
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Counties can’t afford to make those mistakes
I’ll put my money on Ta$man going the maul again
Hunt is cash with the boot
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@Duluth ,does not help when you have 2 of Tasmans biggest supporters calling the game ..I wonder if Tony and Kane can hear themselves..?
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Good pressure from CM pays off, concern for them is their scrum
