Finals rematch awaits Sunday’s Bunnings NPC home match

A slight tweak to Canterbury’s front row stocks is the feature of Sunday’s Bunnings Warehouse NPC side to take on Wellington. With Oli Jager sidelined due to an eye injury, Seb Calder slips into the starting lineup, which brings Carisbrook Toomalatai moves onto the bench as back up.

Sam Darry returns to the park by way of the reserves for the first time since breaking his wrist against the Crusaders in round 11 of Super Rugby. St Bede’s Old Boy Solomon Alaimalo is in line to make his Canterbury debut in jersey 23, having previously played for Northland, Tasman, Waikato and Southland.  

“Wellington will be a strong assignment,” said Head Coach Marty Bourke, “So it’s about building on last week. Cementing some combinations and getting better. Not making changes for changes sake.”

“It’s great to have Sam (Darry) back on the park, he’s a leader in our lineouts and around the park, so we’re looking forward to him getting his opportunity.”

The starting backline largely remains the same as the previous two weeks, with last week’s Ray White Player of the Match Mitchell Drummond partnering Fergus Burke at 9 and 10, leaving Rameka Poihipi and Dallas McLeod together in the midfield. Speedsters Blair Murray, Manasa Mataele and Chay Fihaki team up again in the back three.

Glenmark Cheviot’s Nick Hyde gets another run in #16 after a solid debut last week.

Youthful duo Willi Heinz and Ryan Crotty will close out the match in jerseys 21 and 22.