Jowitt to bolster Northland line-up

Cam Jowitt is back in the Cambridge Blue tomorrow, hoping to prove a point as Northland take on a strengthening Waikato side in Hamilton tomorrow.
The 2.01m lock has been one of the finds of the season for Northland and after missing David Holwell's 100th game last week, he is glad of the opportunity to  again press for a 2010 Super 14 contract.
"I've got to have a big game on Saturday, and next week as well and then we'll see what happens - hopefully we can play well as a team because they've got pretty much a Super 14 pack so it will be good for us to go up against a team like that," he said.
The Taniwha lineout has improved markedly from their dire start to the season, but Jowitt has also impressed with his mobility around the park and in particular, his defence.
"I've been happy with my form in ... let's say the last five games, it took me a while to get into it (after starting the season on the injury list) and get match fit again but the test (of my season) will be if I make the Super 14 or not."
He knows that it will be tough ask to break into the Blues squad.
"I think the Blues have got three locks already picked and a couple of them are All Blacks, so it's going to be hard to kick them out but if there's no joy there, hopefully I get picked up in the draft, a lot is riding on the last two games for me," he said.
This season the Blues started with three specialist locks, in Ali Williams, Jay Williams and Harbour's Antony Boric, with Curtis Haiu as a part-time lock and part-time flanker. Jowitt has already proved he has the pedigree to earn a Super 14 contract after developing as a player since being awarded a professional contract with Irish club Leinster.
He has played the last four seasons with the Irish club, ending his career there on a high note earlier this year with a win in the Heineken Cup.
At 26, it is the first time he's ever experienced the lingering effects of a head knock, with headaches following the game against Tasman - which turned him into a spectator for the match against Wellington.
"It wasn't a pleasant feeling, you've only got one head and you've got to look after it, that's why I took the week off last week. I've still got one fitness test to pass, but I feel fine now so I should be playing."
Coach Bryce Woodward is banking on him passing his final test today .
"I think we missed him, especially when Pat O'Connor went off with a hamstring strain, it meant that the height we had in the lineout was restricted and getting Cam back this week will certainly help us there against Waikato."
He is hoping for a defensive effort similar to the one mounted in the first half against Wellington, if Northland are to stand a chance against a Waikato side firming up as title contenders.
The swap between Jowitt and O'Connor is the only change in the forward pack from the starting line-up that took on Wellington. The injured Rene Ranger is replaced by Damien Fakafanua in the backline for tomorrow's game, which kicks off at 7.35pm at Waikato Stadium.
Northland: 1 Matt Wallis, 2 Mikaele Tuu'u, 3 Karl Haitana, 4 Dan Goodwin, 5 Cam Jowitt, 6 Roy Griffin, 7 Matt Clutterbuck, 8 Cam Eyre, 9 Luke Hamilton, 10 David Holwell, 11 Lachie Munro, 12 Derek Carpenter, 13 Damien Fakafanua, 14 Simon Munro, 15 Jared Payne. Reserves: Tim Dow, Ross Wright, Matt Harrison, Eroni Gadolo, Rhyan Caine, Nick Collins, Troy Woodman.
Waikato: Sosene Anesi, Tim Mikkleson, Jackson Willison, Callum Bruce, Dwayne Sweeney, Stephen Donald, Brendon Leonard, Alex Bradley, Jack Lam, Liam Messam (captain), Kevin O'Neill, Toby Lynn, Nathan White, Aled de Malmanche, Hikairo Forbes. Reserves: Vern Kamo, Latu Talakai, Romana Graham, Jordan Smiler, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Trent Renata, Save Tokula.