Life doesn’t get any easier for the relegation-bound Bay of Plenty side as they take on the Ranfurly Shield holders Counties Manukau in Rotorua on Sunday.
WALKING WOUNDED: Bay of Plenty will be without flanker Tanerau Latimer who has answered the All Blacks’ SOS call from Argentina. But off-setting his loss to a degree is the return of No.8 Carl Axtens. Counties Manukau will have Simon Lemalu back at prop after his recovery from a calf strain. Augustine Pulu’s leg operation has resulted in Kane Hancy getting a start at halfback while Frank Halai is out with an ankle injury giving Ahsee Tuala a chance to start. Mark Selwyn is back from injury to take his place on the bench.
FORM: Bay of Plenty goes into the game with a sorry record having lost their last five games, three of them admittedly against competition heavyweights Auckland (17-32), Canterbury (18-48) and Wellington (16-33), and also to Southland (25-33) and Taranaki (3-21). By comparison, Counties Manukau have shown good form since winning the Ranfurly Shield from Hawke’s Bay that they are in a good place. They beat Taranaki 44-7 and then headed off Waikato 37-25.
|
|
BAY OF PLENTY v COUNTIES MANUKAU Sunday 29 September, 4.35pm at Rotorua International Stadium, RotoruaPlayed: 54, 1956-2012Bay of Plenty wins: 27 | Counties Manukau wins: 26 | Draws: 1 Last match: Counties Manukau 47 Bay of Plenty 13, 07.09.12 in Pukekohe (ITMC) |
WE THINK: The game is an important one for Counties Manukau given the Ranfurly Shield is not at stake and the need to play well away from home is part of being prepared to maintain momentum heading into next week’s final Shield challenge with the play-offs places beyond. Their greater success this year will put even more pressure on a disappointing Bay of Plenty side which has struggled to make an impact all season. It is hard to see that changing given the vitality with which Counties Manukau are playing. We pick the Steelers by 12.
Teams:
Bay of Plenty:1.Kane Hames, 2.Nathan Harris, 3.Pingi Tala’apitaga, 4.Josh Sole, 5. Culum Retallick, 6.Joe Tupe, 7.Beau Robinson, 8.Carl Axtens, 9.Samisoni Fisilau, 10.Willie Ripia, 11.Kimami Sitauti, 12.Nick Evemy, 13.Kenny Lynn, 14.Tino Nemani, 15.Hagen Elliott.
Reserves: 16. Kalem Chan Boon, 17 .Joe Royal, 18.Johan Bardoul, 19.Kieran Black, 20.Josh Hall, 21.Sam Beard, 22.Junior TofaVa’a.
Counties Manukau: 1. Simon Lemalu, 2. Hika Elliot, 3. Jarrod Firth, 4.Ronald Raaymakers, 5. Jimmy Tupou, 6. Adam Cathcart, 7. Maama Vaipulu, 8. Fritz Lee (c), 9.Kane Hancy, 10.Baden Kerr, 11.Tony Pulu, 12. Bundee Aki, 13. Rey Lee-Lo, 14.Ahsee Tuala, 15. Sherwin Stowers.
Reserves: 16.Suliasi Taufelele, 17.Sam Aiono, 18.Sikeli Nabou, 19.Mark Selwyn, 20.Lucky Palamo, 21.Ki Anufe, 22.Sam Vaka.
10% Discount at PlayersRugby , off the Normal RRP
by entering the code “rugbyredefined“
rugbyredefined.wordpress.com 