Kieran Read named to start for Counties Manukau in his first provincial fixture since 2009
All Blacks Nepo Laulala and Dalton Papalii, as well as World Cup-winning former All Black skipper Kieran Read, have been named in the Counties Manukau Steelers side for their opening Mitre 10 Cup match against Tasman on Saturday night.
The three international stars will help form a near full-strength Steelers outfit for coach Tai Lavea’s first game in charge.
Co-captains Lyndon Dunshea and Orbyn Leger have been named at lock and second-five respectively while impressive Ardmore Marist hooker Zuriel Togiatama gets first crack at the number two jersey with Chiefs squad member Donald Maka (concussion) out injured.
Bombay’s McNamara Cup-winning hooker Shaun Muir has this week been brought into the side as injury cover in the hooking position and has been named to come off the bench.
Veteran lock Matiaha Martin returns in the second row having missed all of last season with injury while experienced first-five Baden Kerr has been named to start in what will be his third stint with the province.
These three @TasmanMako are very much the apex predators of the ocean. #Mitre10Cup #COUvTAShttps://t.co/roW0xUPh9f
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 10, 2020
All Blacks Sevens star Sione Molia gets the nod at centre while Etene Nanai-Seturo gets first opportunity to play fullback.
For 128-test All Black Read it will be the first competition game he has played in the PIC Steelers jersey despite growing up in the region and supporting the province as a youngster.
“It is full circle for me, coming back here to play in front of a few fans that can turn up in Pukekohe here so I can’t wait,” Read said.
“I am some kind of minutes alert so they will get me as much as I can go and we have some good guys on the bench ready to come on.
“Tasman are going to be impressive so we need to come out and start well I think and put them under as much pressure as we can.
“It is good to get them early and a good test for us. We are looking forward to it.”
The PIC Steelers will face a stern test in the form of the reigning Mitre 10 Cup champion Tasman Makos, who will bring a star-studded side north to Navigation Homes Stadium.
Bubbles of 100 people will be in attendance for the sold out 7.05pm game.
Counties Manukau: Etene Nanai-Seturo, Kirisi Kuridrani, Sione Molia, Orbyn Leger (cc), Kalione Hala, Baden Kerr, Jonathan Taumateine, Kieran Read, Dalton Papalii, Sam Slade, Lyndon Dunshea (cc), Matiaha Martin, Nepo Laulala, Zuriel Toiatama, Ezekiel Lindenmuth. Reserves: Shaun Muir, Clinton Malolua, Conan O’Donnell, Potu Leavasa, Viliame Taulani, Johnny Kawau, Pele Cowley, Luteru Laulala.
– Counties Manukau Rugby
Comments on RugbyPass
Except for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
33 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
33 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
33 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
33 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
33 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
33 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
33 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to comments