Mass changes as Taranaki side named to play Southland

Above photo: Berny Hall will captain Taranaki for the first time against Southland on Thursday. Photo by Dave Lintott Photography

A large number of changes by Taranaki coach Colin Cooper is the feature of the side as the amber and blacks head into their fourth match of the national provincial championship against Southland on Thursday night.  

Five changes along with three positional reshuffles is not a reflecting of Taranaki’s opposition who are coming off a 51-16 loss against Auckland, but more relates to injuries and continuing to find key combinations.   

After suffering their first loss of the season to Tasman last weekend 25-20, the changes start in the forwards as both Reuben O’Neill and Leighton Price gain their first starts of the season and prop and lock respectively. Price has been out for the last three weeks thanks to a rib injury suffered in Taranaki’s last pre-season game against Waikato. Mitchell Brown replaces regular captain Mitchell Crosswell who has a slight injury niggle, which means openside flanker Berny Hall will captain the side for the first time in a competition match.  

The backline has had a little bit of a reshuffle with Marty McKenzie moving into first five-eighth from fullback and Stephen Perofeta drops to fullback in an interesting move. Declan O’Donnell moves off the bench and will start on the wing and Johnny Fa’auli will start his first game since the round one clash against Bay of Plenty as he has covered from a head knock. Sean Wainui cements his spot in the midfield but moves back to centre as Seta Tamanivalu returns to the All Black environment. After scoring an intercept try last weekend Beaudein Waaka retains his spot on the wing.    

On the bench Jared Profit is reinstated after missing the playing 23 last week, Lachlan Boshier has recovered from injury and will be featured in the side for the first time this year and Isia Tuifua and Jackson Ormond are back in the playing 23, with Tuifua playing a key role in the Taranaki Development side last weekend.  

It was Tasman who made the most of the Taranaki’s mistakes last week and that will want to be tied up ahead of Thursday night’s clash.  

But Taranaki will be happy they are ranked second in the clean breaks department with 48, two behind Otago. They are also leading the competition in terms of lineouts with a 92% record and share the highest percentage at the breakdown with 96%. Their scrum is also operating at 96%.  

Taranaki will wear a special pink and black hooped jersey to support women’s refuge.   Meanwhile Southland are sitting at the bottom of the championship table eager for a win in 2016.  

Southland haven’t had a pleasant history in New Plymouth with their last win coming in 2009 and 2002 before that.

Match details:
Taranaki v Southland
Thursday 8 September
Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth
7:35pm
Referee: Brett Johnston (BoP)  

TAB: Taranaki $1.12 Southland $5.85  

Taranaki: Stephen Perofeta, Beaudein Waaka, Sean Wainui, Johnny Fa’auli, Declan O’Donnell, Marty McKenzie, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Iopu Iopu-Aso, Berny Hall ©, Mitchell Brown, Leighton Price, Ben Matwijow, Reuben O’Neill, Rhys Marshall, Mitchell Graham. Reserves: Sione Lea, Jared Profit, Mike Kainga, Lachlan Boshier, Kylem O’Donnell, Isaia Tuifua, Jackson Ormond.  

Southland: Junior Ngaluafe, Mike Molloy, Kieran Moffat, Dylan Collier, Jaye Thompson - Te Muunu, Greg Dyer, Jimmy Cowan, Josh Clark, Wade McRae, Bill Fukofuka, Mike Stewart, Mike McKee, Morgan, Mitchell, Brayden Mitchell, Peni Ravai. Reserves, Jason Rutledge, Shaun Stodart, Guy Millar, Matt Philip, Phil Halder, Jahvis Wallace, Tauasosi Tuimavave, Keanu Kahukura.  

Head to head: Played: 53, 1899-2013 (DNP 2014-15) | Taranaki wins: 32 | Southland wins: 20 | Draws: 1
Last match: Taranaki 15 Southland 14, 31.08.13 in Invercargill (ITMC)
Last Southland win: Southland 29 Taranaki 13, 16.10.09 in Invercargill (ANZC)
Biggest Taranaki score: 74 (74-43), 13.09.97 in New Plymouth (NPC)
Biggest Southland score: 43 (43-74), 13.09.97 in New Plymouth (NPC)
Biggest differential: Taranaki by 37 (49-12), 06.08.00 in New Plymouth (NPC)