HARD WORKER: Keepa Mewett returns to the Bay of Plenty Steamers side to play Auckland on Sunday. PHOTO/FILE
HARD WORKER: Keepa Mewett returns to the Bay of Plenty Steamers side to play Auckland on Sunday. PHOTO/FILE
The Bay of Plenty Steamers return home to Rotorua International Stadium to compete for the John Drake Boot and Mitre 10 Cup points when they take on Auckland at 4.35pm Sunday afternoon.
The Steamers side features a number of changes including lock Keepa Mewett, winger Elijah Nicholas and centre LalakaiFoketi.
Aidan Ross and Pingi Tala'apitaga will pack down the front of the scrum with hooker Liam Polwart. Keepa Mewett returns to the fold joining Culum Retallick in this week's locking combination. Shahn Eru moves to the blindside, with Hugh Blake and Joe Tupe remaining unchanged as the starting number seven and eight.
In the backs, Rangataua's Ruki Tipuna starts at halfback again ahead of Te Aihe Toma. Kelly Haimona will start at first five eight, with Dan Hollinshead moving to the number 22 jersey. Teddy Stanaway moves to second five-eight, with Lalakai Foketi returning from injury to start at centre.
Elijah Nicholas gets his first start of the season, after being side-lined with concussion, on the left wing with Monty Ioane remaining on the right wing. Former Rotorua Boys' High star Isaac Te Aute again start at fullback.
There is a strong bench featuring hooker James O'Reilly, props Solomona Sakalia and Siegfried Fisi'ihoi, front rower Joseph Royal and flanker Jesse Parete. Monty Ioane will join Toma and Hollinshead on the bench to make up the playing 23.
Bay of Plenty Steamers team:
1. Aidan Ross 2. Liam Polwart 3. Pingi Tala'apitaga 4. Keepa Mewett 5. Culum Retallick (c) 6. Shahn Eru 7. Hugh Blake 8. Joe Tupe 9. Ruki Tipuna 10. Kelly Haimona 11. Elijah Nicholas 12. Teddy Stanaway 13. Lalakai Foketi 14. Regan Ware 15. Isaac Te Aute
Reserves: 16. James O'Reilly 17. Solomona Sakalia 18. Siegfried Fisi'ihoi 19. Joseph Royal 20. Jesse Parete 21. Te Aihe Toma 22. Dan Hollinshead 23. Monty Ioane
Auckland team:
1. Tom McHugh 2. Kurt Eklund 3. Marcel Renata 4. Michael Fatialofa 5. Liaki Moli 6. Taleni Seu 7. Josh Kaifa 8. Akira Ioane 9. Jono Hickey 10. Simon Hickey 11. Joseva Ravouvou 12. Vince Aso 13. Rieko Ioane 14. Lolagi Visinia 15. Melani Nanai
