Canterbury NPC side named for second Auckland match up of the day

Speedster Solomon Alaimalo gets his first start for Canterbury when they go up against old foes Auckland at Eden Park on Saturday night.

The St Bede’s Old Boy impressed off the bench against Taranaki last week and has earnt his spot on the right wing.  

Promising Hooker George Bell has also made his way back into the starting 15 after being held back due to a quad strain early in the competition, while Oli Jager too gets a crack at tighthead prop following a poke in the eye less than 2 minutes into his 50th cap two weeks ago.

Mitchell Dunshea returns to the engine room following a week off, partnering Sam Darry who’s all too familiar with Eden Park in the second row, while Fergus Burke slots back into the driver’s seat at first five eight.

“This is a busy time for us” said Head Coach Marty Bourke, “this is the first leg of our storm week, so our bodies need to be right and up for the challenge that Auckland are coming at us with.”

“We know how much history there is between these two sides, and we have to be prepared to match what they throw at us.”

Billy Harmon will again lead the side from Blindside Flanker with Tom Christie and Cullen Grace in 7 and 8. Reed Prinsep is set to back the trio up from the bench, while Zach Gallagher will look to add his frame to the cause covering the second row.

Daniel Lienert-Brown, Ben Funnell and Seb Calder will be required to finish the match up front with Coach Marty Bourke opting for a 5, 3 split on the bench. “It’ll take all 23 to break this Auckland side down, each and everyone of them will have a job to do, we’re fully aware of the assignment ahead of us.”

Ryan Crotty slips back to the bench with Rameka Poihipi and Dallas McLeod again paring up in the midfield, Mitchell Drummond and Willi Heinz will provide a one-two punch at halfback while Ngatungane Punivai and Chay Fihaki join Alaimalo to make up the back three.