SHANE HURNDELL
Tackle bags and the scrum Machine haven't been the only obstacles at the Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby trainings this week.
Kelt Capital Magpies coach Peter Russell said a flu, which has hit the province's schools hard during the past fortnight, had been knocking his troops around too.
"It's just about gone
through the entire squad," said Russell.
Hooker Hika Elliot coughed and spluttered his way through most of last week's 30-6 loss to Wellington before he was subbed.
His Hurricanes teammate, winger Zac Guildford, was also affected by the flu during the game.
Blues lock Bryn Evans hasn't been able to train this week because of an ankle injury collected last week but Russell was confident about his chances of training today.
Russell has made one change to his starting XV for Saturday night's clash against Northland at Napier's McLean Park. Dan Waenga replaces Sam Giddens at second five-eighth in a move aimed at improving the Magpies' tactical kicking options.
Giddens replaces Waenga on the bench and, with Russell adopting a four-three forward-backs split on the bench instead of the five-two one used last week, utility Mark Jackman has been added to the bench.
Argentinian prop Bruno Cuezzo misses out on one of the forwards subs berth and Hugh Reed replaces Adam Bradey.
This suggests the Magpies will attempt to play the game at pace more than they did in the capital last week.
* Magpies: Israel Dagg; Jason Kupa, Jason Shoemark, Zac Guildford; Dan Waenga, Matt Berquist; Danny Lee (captain); George Naoupu; Karl Lowe, Matt Egan, Bryn Evans, Michael Johnson; Tom Simpson, Hika Elliot, Sona Taumalolo.
Substitutes: Forwards Ash Dixon, Josh Keys, Johan Snyman, Hugh Reed; backs Chris Eaton, Sam Giddens, Mark Jackman.
