Rugby: Injuries to key players force rejig of Northland lineup

Northland wing Jone Macilai on the charge against Southland during an earlier clash between the two sides. Photo / John Stone

Northland's dynamic loose forward duo Tom Robinson and Josh Goodhue are out injured and won't feature in the side to take on Southland in the Mitre 10 Cup fixture tonight.Both suffered injuries against Manawatu at Okara Park on Friday and have been replaced by Temo Mayanavanua and Melbourne Rebels import Murray Douglas at lock.

Northland host the Stags, who have yet to win a match this year and are languishing at the bottom of the Championship, at Okara Park at 7.35pm.

In the same way as the English Premier League was once described as a game played over 90 minutes and at the end Manchester United won. Might now the same be said of rugby in the Mitre 10 competition except that at the end of 80 minutes, Southland lose.

The absence of Robinson for Northland, in particular, would be hard-felt as the Kerikeri enforcer is a ruthless operator with his pace, strength, and ball skills in both defence and attack.

His ball-carrying power has been one of the Taniwha's weapons to get them across the gain-line while his rugged defence and ability to latch on to possession at the breakdown have been significant.

Goodhue plays a similar style with direct running and the ability to break tackles which makes both lock-cum-flankers such a deadly combination wherever they play in tandem.

With both sidelined, Northland head coach Derren Witcombe has been forced to rejig the forward pack and bring debutant Renata Roberts-Te Nana to the reserves' bench.

Veteran Sam Nock will wear the No 9 jersey in place of Jono Kitto who was a standout performer in the side's huge win over Manawatu last week.

Elsewhere in the back line, Jack Debreczeni retains his position at first five, Noah Cooper will occupy the left wing berth in place of the injured Blake Hohaia and Jordan Hyland will again feature on the other wing.

Scott Gregory will partner Rene Ranger in midfield and Matty Wright will marshall play from the No 15 jersey.

In the forwards, captain Jordan Olsen will hook the scrum and Isileli Tu'ungafasi and Ropate Rinakama to be the twin props.

Jaycob Matiu will play blindside, Kara Pryor openside and Matt Matich No 8.

The reserves' bench will have Campbell Matthews, Jack Straker, Paddy Jo Atkins, Sam McNamara, Matt Moulds, Kitto, Myles Thoroughgood, and Roberts-Te Nana.

Currently on 11 points with two wins and three losses, the Taniwha has two away games against Hawke's Bay in Napier on September 26 and against Counties Manukau four days later.

Their last home match is against Waikato on October 6 before finishing the competition with an away game, against Bay of Plenty in Tauranga on October 13.