Bay of Plenty Steamers have named a new-look team to play Counties Manukau at ECO Light Stadium in Pukekohe on Sunday at 4.35pm.
Following last Sunday's 43-10 loss to Waikato, the Steamers have had a full seven days to get over some injuries and take stock of what needs urgent improvement.
Head Coach Clayton McMillan has made a number of changes to the starting XV, with a back line reshuffle.
Dan Hollinshead will start at first five eight, Te Aihe Toma at halfback and Caleb Hall returns to second five eight. Whaimotu Craft-Chemis gets a start on the right wing, with Tino Nemani shifting to centre. Elijah Nicolas comes into the squad from the Bay Development side to take his position on the left wing, with Chase Tiatia moving to full back. Shahn Eru starts his first game at lock.
Culum Retallick and Carl Axtens will co-captain the Steamers team.The one-on-one tackling that was so woeful against Waikato is the greatest work-on ahead of Counties Manukau, whose big athletic ball-running forwards will rip any team to pieces if allowed to.
But the Steelers are backing up from a tough loss to Taranaki on Wednesday night so may not be at their sharpest on Sunday. What was apparent in the Taranaki match is how Counties Manukau commit so few forwards to the tackled ball situation, fanning out across the field on or often over the offside line.
