Taniwha aim to tame Otago

NORTHLAND flanker Joel McKenty will fill the boots of regular skipper Jared Payne and captain the Taniwha for today's fifth round ITM Cup Championship clash with Otago.
The 30-year-old has played 46 games for Northland and is in his sixth season with the national provincial championship side, but today will be his first shot at filling the skipper's role.
"It's my first time as captain and I'm pretty excited and honoured. As a young kid growing up I always wanted to play for Northland and to get a chance at captaining the side is an added bonus," McKenty said.
Three games - one win and two losses - into the truncated ITM Cup season, and today's game is crucial for the Taniwha left reeling after their 16-23 loss to Taranaki on Wednesday night. "As with any game we are heading into it with the intention of winning, but with Otago being a fellow championship team, this game has added importance," McKenty said.
Northland's injury toll has crept up since Wednesday's encounter, but having fresh guys on the paddock was positive for the team, McKenty said.
"They are excited at the opportunity to have a run ... I think they'll play out of their skins," he said.
Otago are a traditional side, who have recruited well. They won their first two matches this season before falling to Hawkes Bay last Saturday. Northland are well aware of what they are capable of, especially on the back of a loss, the skipper said.
"They have a powerful forward pack, and Tony Brown [first five-eighths] really steers them around the park. We need to get up in their faces, cut them down and stop their go-forward."
The seasoned campaigner said he felt the forwards had lifted their game this year under the direction of forwards' coach Derren Witcombe.
"I feel we have improved at set piece and it's good to know we can go into a game and be confident about our ability to dominate other forward packs."
McKenty said he was pleased with how he had performed to date, but his main focus was on being a team player. "For me, it's about doing what I can for the team - whether it's playing at 6 or 7, half a game or 60 minutes - I want to leave everything out there, even if it means they have to carry me off ... I want to lead from the front," he said.
For today's match, head coach Adriaan Ferris and Witcombe tapped into their talented squad for cover, with injuries plaguing several players.
Payne injured his hip on Wednesday, and Simon Munro will start on the right wing, with Lachie Munro moving into fullback.
Aaron Bancroft took a head knock against Taranaki and will sit this game out with Derek Carpenter getting his first start of the season at inside centre, while lock Mark Burman (head knock), hooker Tim Dow (knee) and prop Matt Wallis (calf) also carry injuries. Cam Goodhue will start at No 8 with Cam Eyre moving to the bench, and Wayne Ngaluafe gets his first start at halfback, with Rhyan Caine moving to the reserves line up. Centre Warren Dunn joins him there, included in the game day 23 for the first time this season.
Ferris said there was enough depth in the squad to confidently make the changes.
Kickoff today is at 4.35pm at Toll Stadium, with Southern Districts Premier teams Mid Western facing Old Boys in the curtain raiser, kicking off at 2pm.
 
The teams
Northland: 1 Justin Davies, 2 Ross Wright, 3 Scott Vessey, 4 Bryce Williams, 5 Marty Veale, 6 Joel McKenty (c), 7 Dan Pryor, 8 Cam Goodhue, 9 Wayne Ngaluafe, 10 Ash Moeke, 11 Bryce Heem, 12 Derek Carpenter, 13 Rene Ranger, 14 Simon Munro, 15 Lachie Munro. Reserves: 16 Tevita Vaipulu, 17 Aterea Davis, 18 Dan Faleafa, 19 Cam Eyre, 20 Ryhan Caine, 21 Jack McPhee, 22 Warren Dunn, 23 Jamie Corsi.
Otago: 1 Halani Aulika, 2 Jason MacDonald, 3 Kees Meeuws, 4 Daniel Ramsay, 5 Tom Donnelly, 6 Paul Grant, 7 Eben Joubert (c), 8 Gareth Evans, 9 Sean Romans, 10 Tony Brown, 11 Buxton Popoalii, 12 Jayden Spence, 13 Ben Atiga, 14 Joe Hill, 15 Glenn Dickson. Reserves: 16 Liam Coltman, 17 James McGougan, 18 Rob Verbakel, 19 TJ Ione, 20 Johnny Legg, 21 Hayden Parker, 22 Sam Giddens, 23 Scott Manson.