Otago hoping a distracted Tasman side will be ripe for the picking

Good news. Tasman are firmly focused on defending the Ranfurly Shield next week and have named a second-string lineup to play Otago at Forsyth Barr Stadium tomorrow afternoon.

The Mako start their storm week in Dunedin and have decided that will be the game they rest their top players.

The Log o’ Wood is on the line against Auckland on Wednesday and, possibly, against Taranaki on Sunday, and those fixtures appear to be the priority.

There is no Levi Aumua, no Macca Springer, no Timoci Tavatavanawai and no Campbell Parata.

Instead, Tayne Hemopo, East Timor Viliamu, Cooper Grant and Cooper Roberts will make their debuts, while Josh Te Hira, Matthew McCormick, Timoci Sauira and Maloni Kunawave will potentially debut off the bench.

The game is a must-win for Otago. They have to beat Northland next week as well to have a shot at the top eight.

Otago coach Tom Donnelly said whoever Tasman sent down, "they’ll be a quality side".

"We’re just preparing like we’re going to be playing the best Tasman team that can come down here."

Tasman have set the benchmark this season. They are unbeaten in seven games, while Otago snapped a four-game losing streak with a 28-10 win over Manawatu in Palmerston North on Sunday to keep the playoff spark alive.

"We're extremely proud of the performance in Manawatu in really, really tough conditions. We’d come off the back of four losses, and the boys worked really hard.

"Now we're giving ourselves a chance. If we win this weekend, we're still in the running for the playoffs, which has been a goal all season."

Donnelly has retained the starting eight but made a few tweaks to the backline.

Ajay Faleafaga will start at second five, which means Thomas Umaga-Jensen and Hudson Creighton shift out one spot.

Lock Fabian Holland returns from a pesky ankle complaint and will be among the reserves, while Dunedin Sharks midfielder Joe Cooke and winger Waqa Nalaga come on to the bench.

The decision to start Faleafaga in the midfield is interesting. The first five has been stuck behind Cameron Millar and has not had a lot of opportunity this season.

"The chances he's had for us, he's played really, really well. It just gives us a chance to give him a crack in the midfield, really.

"Get him on the field."

 

NPC
The teams
Otago: Finn Hurley, Josh Whaanga, Thomas Umaga-Jensen, Ajay Faleafaga, Hudson Creighton, Cameron Millar, James Arscott, Christian Lio-Willie (captain), Harry Taylor, Oliver Haig, Will Stodart, Sam Fischli, Saula Ma’u, Liam Coltman, Benjamin Lopas. Reserves: Henry Bell, Rohan Wingham, Moana Takataka, Fabian Holland, Lucas Casey, Nathan Hastie, Joe Cooke, Waqa Nalaga.

Tasman: Kyren Taumoefolau, Cooper Roberts, Nic Sauira, Tim O’Malley, Jack Gray, Cooper Grant, Louie Chapman (captain), East Timor Viliamu, Braden Stewart, Johnny Lee, Tayne Hemopo, Hunter Leppien, Isaac Salmon, Eli Oudenryn, Monu Moli. Reserves: Josh Te Hira, Matt Graham-Williams, Sione Mafi, Matthew McCormick, Tim Sail, Mason Lund, Timoci Sauira, Maloni Kunawave.