RUGBY: Rosenberg grabs fullback slot for opener

SHANE HURNDELL
Hastings Rugby and Sports' James Rosenberg has been given the hotly contested fullback's berth in the Hawke's Bay rugby side for Saturday's NPC opener against Nelson Bays at Napier's McLean Park.
The 20-year-old, in his first season out of Hastings Boys' High School, has beaten Tamatea's Donovan Nepia and Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports' Jacob Kennedy for the Kelt Capital Magpies' No 15 jersey. Nepia has made the subs' bench and Kennedy has missed the squad of 22 for the battle with the Air New Zealand NPC division two champions.
Along with Rosenberg, Napier Boys' High School products Dan Waenga, at first five-eighth, and centre Ben Allen, will also make their NPC debuts in the starting XV. Should Havelock North's former New Zealand under-19 hooker Hika Elliot and Clive prop Arizona Taumalolo get game time off the bench they will also make their NPC debuts.
Other features are the return of Rosenberg's Hastings Rugby and Sports clubmates, winger Ray Karauria and flanker Tafai Ioasa, who didn't play NPC rugby for the Magpies last year.
"We're pretty happy with our mix of young and experienced players. They all know they've got an early opportunity to not only secure regular NPC starts for this season but to put their hand up for premier division selection next year," said Magpies coach Brendon Ratcliffe.
He has given the captaincy to Taradale No 8 Mutu Ngarimu, one of three players he is likely to use as captain this year. The others are last year's captain, Napier Old Boys Marist flanker Michael Johnson, and Havelock North's midfield back and 2003 NPC division two player of the year Davis Norman.
With no substitute lock on the bench, Johnson will again cover this position. Yet another indication of the loose forward strength is the fact Clive captain Karl Lowe and his Tamatea counterpart Nui Bartlett are both on the bench. Team:
James Rosenberg; Ray Karauria, Ben Allen, Karl Mudzamba; Davis Norman, Dan Waenga; Chad Shepherd; Mutu Ngarimu (captain); Tafai Ioasa, Bryn Evans, Lua Lokotui, Michael Johnson; Tom Symes, Danny Logan, Clint Newland. Substitutes: Forwards, Hika Elliot, Arizona Taumalolo, Nui Bartlett, Karl Lowe; backs, Richard Bousfield, Eddie Hekenui, Donovan Nepia.