Plenty at stake for returning All Blacks

A trio of All Blacks with plenty to prove return to Air New Zealand Cup rugby action when Southland play Taranaki in Invercargill tomorrow.

Rugby Park Stadium will host the first Thursday night clash in New Zealand domestic rugby, but that historical footnote won't be on the minds of Southland halfback Jimmy Cowan, Taranaki hooker Andrew Hore and his locking teammate Jason Eaton.

All three were involved in the All Blacks' disappointing loss to South Africa at Rustenberg this month, their only test defeat of the year.

Cowan and Hore made rare starts in that game and will regard the next few weeks of provincial play as crucial to hold onto their berths on the season-ending tour of England, France and Wales -- where three halfbacks and three hookers will tour.

Eaton is a probable tourist but, along with Hore, will have his heart set on reversing Taranaki's slump in form.

Their unexpected 17-23 loss at home to Northland last Friday in the first pool B repechage match continued their listless form from the first round of matches, in which they won only twice and averaged just 14 points per game.

The loss of hard-working flanker John Willis through a rib cartilage injury is a blow for coach Kieran Crowley while openside flanker Scott Waldrom has been dropped.

Ray Stark replaces Waldrom and Jarrad Hoeata shifts from lock to blindside to make room for Eaton.

The only backline switch sees halfback Brendan Haami replace Brett Goodin.

Cowan's introduction and the return of lock Hoani Macdonald, are the only Southland changes to a side who quelled the Tasman challenge 23-14 in Invercargill last weekend.

Another win for Southland will put them in a strong position to top their repechage pool and advance to join the top six in the quarterfinals.

TEAMS:

Southland:

Kenny Lynn, Willie Rickards, Jason Kawau, Phil Dawson, Watisoni Lotawa, Blair Stewart, Jimmy Cowan, Mark McHugh, Dion Bates, Hale T-Pole, Hoani MacDonald, Kane Thompson, Clarke Dermody (captain), David Hall, Jamie Mackintosh.

Reserves:

Jason Rutledge, Jayden Murch, Josh Bekhuis/Rees Logan, Ray Hemi/Jeff Wright, Adam Clarke, James Wilson, Pehi Te Whare.

Taranaki:

Scott Ireland, Paul Perez, Mathew Harvey, Lifeimi Mafi, Michael Tagicakibau, Miah Nikora, Brendan Haami, Tomasi Soqeta, Raymond Stark, Jarrad Hoeata, Jason Eaton, Paul Tito (captain), Census Johnson, Andrew Hore, Tony Penn.

Reserves:

Laurence Corlett, Hoani Tui, Scott Waldrom, Joe Lawn, Brett Goodin, Jack Cameron, Kurt Morath

- NZPA