Rugby: New-look side ready for the easy one

By CHRIS RATTUE

Waikato coach Ian Foster has made a number of changes to his lineup for what most pundits predict will be a comfortable victory against Northland in Hamilton tomorrow.

Northland coach Bryce Woodward did his best yesterday to put an edge on the game when he said: "There would have been much bigger upsets in the history of rugby than if we win in Hamilton."

But despite a successful rearguard action against Bay of Plenty, Northland - with only one NPC win - will be given little chance against the side that has set the benchmark for much of this NPC season.

Amid the success, Foster has continued to move his selections around and tomorrow's team will be missing Todd Miller, Regan King, Marty Holah, the injured Jono Gibbes, Deacon Manu, Greg Smith and Michael Collins, all of whom started last week against Auckland.

Hooker Smith is missing altogether, to rest minor injuries, giving a start to Scott Linklater, who did not figure in the original Waikato squad but has made a series of appearances from the bench.

Guy Coleman is back from a long knee injury layoff.

And 2.03m lock Sean Hohneck, who has played only two warm-up matches in the past two years, joins the reserves, adding some lineout and kickoff height which might be needed to compensate for the loss of Gibbes.

Tomorrow evening's match will mark the return to the starters of vice-captain Mark Ranby, who has been working back from a shoulder injury.

He will join his old Chiefs and Waikato comrade Keith Lowen in the midfield.

Lowen will move out to centre in place of try-scoring find King.

Northland will be without injured captain Glenn Taylor again, and hard-working flanker Allen Tubbs is also on the injured list.

* Mark Robinson has been restored to the North Harbour captaincy for tomorrow night's game against Southland after recovering from concussion and injury.

Sevens specialist Anthony Tuitavake comes on to the wing, and Hayden Reid shifts to cover for injured fullback Nick Evans.