Rugby: Allardice to play first encounter since injury

Michael Allardice.

It was one of the worst sights for Hawke's Bay Magpies fans during the Super Rugby season.

That is lock Michael Allardice's knee twist in the Chiefs' May 16 22-18 loss to the Hurricanes in Wellington. His knee had bent completely the wrong way, leaving him in excruciating pain.

Allardice had ruptured his medial ligament and tomorrow he will play his first match since then when he starts for the Magpies in their final ITM Cup rehearsal against Taranaki at Napier's McLean Park.

The match will be played as the curtainraiser to the Maddison Trophy final between Havelock North and Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports.

His Chiefs teammate, second five-eighth Andrew Horrell, will also be making his first appearance of the season for the Magpies and will captain the hosts in the absence of regular leader Brendon O'Connor who will be attending a wedding. Highlanders and Maori All Black teammates, hooker Ash Dixon and prop Brendon Edmonds, are both expected to get time off the subs bench.

Their Highlanders teammate, utility back Richard Buckman, has been rested for another week.

"Bucky had a busy season of Super Rugby.

"Had this weekend's match been an ITM Cup game he would have played but we feel another week's rest will do him good," Magpies head coach Craig Philpott said.

Unlike the Magpies three Ranfurly Shield defences last month, tomorrow's match won't have first class status and Philpott will take the opportunity to give 26 players a run. The Magpies open their ITM Cup campaign with a Ranfurly Shield defence against Northland at McLean Park on August 16.

Magpies: Lewis Marshall, Ryan Tongia, Jonah Lowe, Andrew Horrell (c), Mason Emerson, Ihaia West, Ellery Wilson, Gareth Evans, Tom Stanley, Tony Lamborn, Michael Allardice, Sanaila Waqa, Jarvy Aoake, Ricky Ricctelli, Jason Long.

Substitutes, forwards: Ash Dixon, Brendon Edmonds, Mark Braidwood, Mark Abbott, Trent Boswell-Wakefield, Joseph Penitito. Backs: Chris Eaton, Tyrone Elkington-MacDonald, Billy Ropiha, Shannan Chase, Zac Guildford.