RUGBY: Birthday boy Macca at home in line-up

Ryan McLeod, or "Macca", as he is better known in Hawke's Bay rugby circles, couldn't have asked for a better 22nd birthday present on Monday.
"I was pretty stoked when I was told I would be starting for the Magpies," he told SportToday, as he reflected on his first chat with Magpies co-coach Peter Russell in the build-up to tomorrow's pre-season clash against Taranaki at Napier's McLean Park.
Relieved, as well as stoked, suggested SportToday, and the Napier Technical second five-eighth agreed.
After shining for the Hawke's Bay XV selection in last year's pre-season outing against Poverty Bay on Queen's Birthday, McLeod didn't get another crack at the Magpies squad because of a quad strain. There was a repeat of the injury, albeit in a not-as-serious form last week and he gave club rugby a miss at the weekend.
"I had to be a bit selfish so I will be right for the Magpies and I was full on at training on Monday," said the Canterbury age-group product who is in his third season playing in the Bay.
The part-time chimney sweeper and part-time rugby development officer with the Bay union couldn't have a more familiar inside back combination for his Magpies debut. He will be playing outside his former Christchurch Boys' High School 1st XV first five-eighth, Andrew Horrell, and inside his Tech centre Richard Buckman.
"Familiarity won't be a problem and with Jacko [fullback Mark Jackman] also from our 1st XV, there's a good Christchurch Boys' flavour to the team," added McLeod who has impressed former All Blacks and Magpies midfield legend Ian MacRae since arriving in the Bay.
With his Taranaki opponent Jayden Hayward having played under Russell in the Highlanders for the past two seasons, McLeod shouldn't be short of knowledge on what Hayward is capable of either.
McLeod will be one of four players who will make their starting XV debuts for the Magpies tomorrow.
Havelock North winger Gillies Kaka, Napier Old Boys Marist's former Canterbury No 8 Mike Coman and Hastings Rugby and Sports 2009 New Zealand Secondary Schools frontrower Ben Tameifuna, who will start at hooker, are the others.
The Taranaki side includes several of their new signings in former Auckland and Wellington winger David Smith, former Manawatu speedster Andre Taylor and former Canterbury halfback Tyson Keats.
* TEAMS
Hawke's Bay: Mark Jackman; Gillies Kaka, Richard Buckman, Jason Kupa, Ryan McLeod, Andrew Horrell, Chris Eaton, Mike Coman, Hugh Reed, Leighton Price, Bryn Evans, Michael Johnson, Jodi Allen, Ben Tameifuna, Josh Keys.
Substitutes: Forwards, Whetu Barber, Anthony Perenise, Ross Kennedy, Brody Retallick, Trent Boswell-Wakefield; backs, Michael Ruru, Daniel Kirkpatrick, Jason Shoemark, Star Timu.
Taranaki: Scott Ireland; David Smith, Isaia Tuifua, Andre Taylor; Jayden Hayward, Beauden Barrett; Tyson Keats; Ben Souness; Chris Walker, Craig Clarke (captain), James Broadhurst, Samuela Vunisa; Michael Bent, Laurence Corlett, Carl Carmichael.
Substitutes: Forwards, Timo Tutavaha, Shane Cleaver, Kane Barrett, Leon Power; backs, Kylem O'Donnell, Cody Rei, Willie Rickards, Waisake Ratunideuba.