Meeuws' baby prompts Otago shake-up among front rowers

Otago will field a revamped front row for their match against Bay of Plenty at Carisbrook tomorrow.

Props Joe McDonnell and Carl Hayman replace Marius Mostert and Kees Meeuws from the team who lost to Waikato in Hamilton last weekend.

Meeuws' wife, Juanita, gave birth to a daughter in Dunedin at 2.30 am yesterday.

"Kees has had a big week with the birth of his daughter and he wasn't able to attend practice today," coach Laurie Mains said last night. "He's got other things on his mind at the moment and we thought it would be best to play Carl [Hayman]."

Hayman will be having his first start since the loss to Counties Manukau a month ago and McDonnell will be starting for the first time since the NPC opener against North Harbour on August 10.

Mains said McDonnell's selection was simply a matter of player rotation.

The other change is at centre where George Leaupepe, fit again after missing the Waikato game because of a groin strain, returns in place of Seilala Mapusua.

Ryan Nicholas has been preferred to Mapusua on the bench because of his greater versatility.

Players not available because of injury were Tony Brown, Byron Kelleher, Taine Randell, Carl Hoeft and Kelvin Middleton.

Mains said there was no chance Otago would be complacent against bottom-placed Bay of Plenty.

"Our entire season rests on this match. Only once we've got it out of the way will we look at the next week.

"They [Bay of Plenty] can be a very difficult side to play and we'll have to be at our best to contain them."

Mains said Otago had been working on ball retention and the elimination of errors since their 33-20 loss to Waikato. "Support of the ball carrier is something else we've worked hard at this week."

Brendan Laney will continue with the goal-kicking duties, despite a lean day in Hamilton, when he got one from five.

Bay of Plenty stalwart Mark Weedon said his team was approaching the match as a chance to boost their confidence.

"Otago are coming off a loss and are a pretty classy side, and need the win as much as we do.

"We need to grab the opportunity to get a few things right in our own game. The scrum needs to be more solid, we need to make sure we win our own lineout ball and limit turnovers."

Bay of Plenty began their campaign with an away win over Wellington, but have struggled since with six consecutive losses.

Otago have won their past 10 games against Bay of Plenty, last losing 22-13 at Whakatane in 1981.

- NZPA