The Otago Whalers have named a much stronger line-up for their second South Island Championship game against the Aoraki Eels in Dunedin today.
Mecurial half Mackenzie Haugh is back from rugby duty after helping the Bush Pigs secure a 21-19 win in the final of the National Under-85kg Club Cup.
Jordan McEntee was in that side and he also doubles as a rugby league player. He was outstanding in his debut club season and will make his debut for the Whalers today.
Massive prop Champ Betham, who was so destructive for the South Pacific Raiders in the club final, has been named in the team as well and will also be making his debut.
His combination with robust wing Tofatu Solia will present the Eels with two enormous challenges.
They are both very, very big men.
Centre Keenan Masina and replacement Ben Fosita, both regulars in the Dunedin club rugby scene, will also be making their Whalers debut.
Veteran prop Ricki Allan is out of isolation and back in the squad. Southern rugby stalwarts Mika Mafi and Mike Mata’afa are in the line-up as well.
Coach Dave Reedy was looking forward to seeing what his side could achieve.
"I’m definitely excited about that. It is a big team," he said.
"I just want to see them use the ball. We are looking to score out wide. We’ve got some big boys in the middle who will hopefully bend the line to free up the space on the outside."
The Eels suffered a 46-20 loss to the Southland Rams first up.
But the Whalers were not that impressive either. They left their run very late.
Assistant coach Louis Tili answered an SOS to fill in at standoff and ended up knocking over a drop goal in the final minutes to seal a tense 15-14 win against West Coast Chargers in Greymouth.
In the other Championship match this weekend, the Charges will look to bounce back against the Rams in Invercargill.
The home team was too good for the Eels in week one and will be very tough on their home turf.
SI Championship
North Ground, today, 2pm
Otago Whalers: Tama Apineru, Tofatu Solia, Keenan Masina, Lawrence Ualesi, Kiardyn Hatch, Mackenzie Haugh, Jordan McEntee, Ricki Allan (captain), Troy Anstiss, Mika Mafi, Israel Otunuku, Champ Betham, Hagan Free, Michael Strydom, Michael Mata’afa, Ben Fosita, EJ Lam Cheung, Jayden Hollander
