In form Parkinson gets nod

Matua Parkinson is back for Bay of Plenty as they chase an away victory at Carisbrook on Sunday.

The veteran Maori and national sevens representative has impressed coach Vern Cotter with his fitness and form and gets the start at No 7 ahead of the aggressive Nili Latu against Otago.

"Matua's in very good nick," Cotter said.

"He had the Fight for Life, which he trained very hard for and he is in fine form."

Among those absent are backs Alan Bunting, with a dislocated shoulder, David Johnston, who has a fractured eye socket, and prop Tau Filise, who had to return to Tonga on family business but is expected to be back in the frame next week.

* Northland will field a clutch of NPC newcomers when they host Wellington in Whangarei tomorrow.

Wing Mike Rowe, second five-eighths Quin Butler and Fijian lock Isoa Domolailai make their first starts against one of the competition big guns, while No 8 Brad Christenson had only two appearances off the bench last season.

Flanker Allen Tubbs is back after a couple of seasons away while last season's captain, Jared Going, is on the reserve bench.