Rugby: Canterbury tinker for Shield bid

Corey Flynn returns for Canterbury this weekend. Photo / Getty Images

Canterbury welcome back hooker Corey Flynn and prop Peter Borlase for the national provincial championship rugby match and Ranfurly Shield challenge against Southland in Invercargill on Saturday night.

Flynn and Borlase have overcome injuries to replace Steve Fualau and Andrew Olorenshaw, respectively, from the side who beat Otago last weekend.

Halfback Andy Ellis has been entrusted with the captaincy duties after regular skipper and flanker George Whitelock was ruled out due to a medial ligament strain suffered against Otago.

Matt Todd will wear the number seven jersey and in another change Sam Whitelock will start on the blindside flank in his first game for Canterbury since the round six victory over Bay of Plenty on September 3 due to his All Blacks commitments.

Robbie Fruean is back at centre after coming off the reserves bench against Otago and Sonny Bill Williams moves into second five-eighth after starting in the number 13 jersey at Carisbrook.

Canterbury head coach Rob Penney said there was plenty of enthusiasm in the camp ahead of the match.

"Shield matches are very special and the boys are looking forward to what will be a very hard battle against Southland in Invercargill," he said.

Southland won the shield off Canterbury late last season.

Canterbury: Sean Maitland, Tu Umaga-Marshall, Robbie Fruean, Sonny Bill Williams, Telusa Veainu, Colin Slade, Andy Ellis (captain), Nasi Manu, Matt Todd, Sam Whitelock, Isaac Ross, Luke Romano, Peter Borlase, Corey Flynn, Wyatt Crockett.

Reserves: Steve Fualau, Andrew Olorenshaw, Ash Parker, Brendon O'Connor, Willi Heinz, Stephen Brett, Ryan Crotty.

- NZPA