ITM Cup Match Preview: Waikato takes on Bay of Plenty in Rotorua International Stadium
Waikato is taking on Bay of Plenty in a crucial game of the ongoing ITM Cup 2011 on July 26. The Waikato’s has won just one game after playing two matches in the competition whereas the BoP is yet to be defeated in the tournament. BoP is coming off an impressive
38-17 victory over North Harbour. Waikato needs to win this match as they have lost the previous match to Taranaki on July 21.
Both sides have met several times before in the provincial championship and Waikato’s has performed far better than BoP. Up to now, 76 matches have been played between the two teams and Waikato has triumphed in 48 clashes. The BoP conquered the field 24
times whereas four matches have remained result-less. The sides faced each other during last year’s championship and Waikato’s ousted Bay of Plenty after a great show by 13-10.
Waikato have made 10 changes in their side after a stunning defeat by the Naki’s and have included a few seasoned players in their team. Nathan White, who plays for the Chiefs in the Super Rugby championship, has been given command of the side. Four more
players have been named in Waikato’s side including Jackson Willison, Brendon Leonard, Aled de Malmanche and Ben May.
The Waikato skipper, Nathan White, told the media that with the arrival of some experience his side has a good chance. He said that it will be a perfect combination to go against BoP in the upcoming match as the Chiefs’ players are well known to Waikato.
He added that, “Everyone knows each other pretty well. Some of the guys live together for seven or eight months of the year so we know each other personally well and the two unions know how each other play and know each other's games pretty well.”
The skipper suggested that his team needs to forget about their last defeat against Taranaki and focus on the forthcoming clash. He stated that, “We started the [Taranaki] game really well but we need that focus of maintaining it for 80 minutes through the
guys out there starting doing the job and the guys coming off the bench really adding something to keep it going to keep pressure on teams in the back half of games.”
Nathan White, Toby Smith and Trent Renata will be the key men for Waikato whereas BoP will be expecting Ben Smith, Lelia Masaga and Steve Kefu to play an important role in the match.
Both sides will go in the field with the following players:
Bay of Plenty: Toby Arnold, Lelia Masaga, Phil Burleigh, Steve Kefu, Ben Smith, Dan Waenga, Jamie Nutbrown, Colin Bourke (c), Tanerau Latimer, Luke Andrews, Culum Retallick, Leon Power, Josh Hohneck, Dan Perrin, Tristan Moran.
Reserves: John Pareanga, Pingi Talaapitaga, Sam Cane, Luke Braid, Taniela Moa, Chris Noakes, Lance MacDonald/Nick McCashin, Bronson Murray.
Waikato: Tim Mikkelson, Frank Halai, Jackson Willison, Rena Schuster, Henry Speight, Trent Renata, Brendon Leonard, Alex Bradley, Zak Hohneck, Jack Lam, Toby Lynn, Chris Middleton, Nathan White, Aled de Malmanche, Ben May.
Reserves: Marcel Cummings-Toone, Toby Smith, Romana Graham, Matt Vant Leven, Malcolm Barnes, Sam Christie, Save Tokula, Latu Talakai.
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