Williams earns first start for trip to Counties Manukau

Tamaiti Williams will start his first match of the 2022 Bunnings Warehouse NPC, while Liam Allen gets the nod at number 8 to celebrate his Blazer game (12th cap for Canterbury).

The Counties Manukau clash also doubles as a milestone clash for two other players, Willi Heinz earning his second blazer (62 caps), while at the other end of the scale, former Rakaia and Mid Canterbury Prop Tom Heywood is in line to make his debut in jersey 17.  

“Tom’s a hardworking no-nonsense prop who’s been toiling away. His hard work for University (of Canterbury) this year saw him rewarded with a couple of starts for the Canterbury B side and now a likely NPC cap, it’s a great story and one that sets a great example of what can be achieved coming from country rugby.” said Forwards Coach Craig Dunlea.  

“Tam’s (Tamaiti) and Liam are really exciting young fellas who have worked hard for their opportunities. It’ll be a little different for them starting, but we just want them to go and empty their tanks and keep having the same sort of impact they have been having off the bench.” Dunlea added.  

Brodie McAlister returns to the starting line-up at hooker, while Sam Darry and the impressive Dominic Gardiner will be McAlister’s line out targets. Billy Harmon will skipper the side with Tom Christie, the competitions number one tackler at openside and Allen at 8.  

Mitch Drummond returns to the number 9 jumper after a couple of weeks rest, reforming his partnership with Fergus Burke (The competitions top points scorer) at 10 and Rameka Poihipi at 12. “Ferg is doing a really good job for us, driving the team around at 10 and a fair amount of that is the relationships he has both at 9 and 12,” said backs Coach Alex Robertson.   

Isaiah Punivai and Dallas McLeod swap spots this week, with Punivai set to start and McLeod on the bench, while Manasa Mataele returns to the left wing to link back up with Chay Fihaki at full back and Ngatungane Punivai on the right wing.  

“Izzy has been fantastic for us in the later parts of the match said Robertson, we’re really confident in his play and he deserves the opportunity to start. Manasa has been itching to get back on the field too, so we’re all really excited for Saturday in Pukekohe.”