Holah to play Australia A

Marty Holah. File picture / Greg Bowker

Marty Holah will finally get his rugby boots dirty against Australia A tomorrow night after moving like a yo-yo between the All Blacks camp and the touring Juniors.

Holah, who was summoned to Christchurch before the first Lions test last week as cover for Richie McCaw, will start on the openside flank in the Juniors' tour finale at Aussie Stadium.

He is one of eight changes in the team named yesterday by co-coaches Colin Cooper and Ian Foster for the second of two matches against the second-tier Wallabies.

Holah is joined in the starting XV by hooker Andrew Hore, lock Kevin O'Neill, blindside flanker Craig Newby and halfback Piri Weepu, who were all on the bench for the 23-19 victory in Canberra on Sunday.

Loosehead prop Saimone Taumoepeau, first five-eighths Stephen Donald and tighthead prop Ben Castle start for the first time since the 48-10 win over Queensland in Brisbane last Wednesday.

Disruptions have been part and parcel of the Juniors' three-match tour, with the squad in a constant state of transition.

The Otago and Southland contingent were late arriving after provincial games against the Lions, while halfback Jimmy Cowan was sent home for disciplinary reasons after an incident at a Brisbane hotel early last Saturday.

Prop Carl Hoeft also returned home, for the birth of his second child, while Aucklanders Ben Atiga, Steve Devine and Jerome Kaino were released to prepare for their match against the Lions on Tuesday.

Foster downplayed the significance of the disruptions, saying most were foreseen.

Australia A coach Ewen McKenzie will again have the services of prop Nic Henderson, halfback Matt Henjak and fullback Drew Mitchell after they were released from the Wallabies camp.

Queensland lock Rudi Vedelago replaces Alister Campbell, who will make his test debut against France in Brisbane on Saturday.

"The players really stepped up last weekend against a strong Junior All Blacks side and we will be looking to continue that momentum," McKenzie said.

Junior All Blacks:
S. Anesi, J. Rokocoko, C. Laulala, L. McAlister, C. Ralph, S. Donald, P. Weepu, S. Bates (capt), M. Holah, C. Newby, K. O'Neill, B. Upton, S. Taumoepeau, A. Hore, B. Castle. Res: C. Dermody, C. Flynn, R. Kennedy, C. Masoe, K. Senio, D. Hill, N. Evans.

Australia A:
D. Mitchell, P. Hewat, J. Pelesasa, S. Berne, M. Gerrard, S. Norton-Knight, M. Henjak, S. Fava, D. Croft, A. Wallace-Harrison, A. Kanaar, R. Vedelago, G. Holmes, A. Freier (capt), N. Henderson. Res: S. Hardman, D. Fitter, L. Doherty, T. Horua, B. Sheehan, L. MacKay, B. Jacobs.