ITM Cup Rugby: Fraser's chance to shine for Steamers

FULLBACK: Te Rangi Fraser (right), who played at first five-eighth during the club season, will make his first start for the Steamers tomorrow. PHOTO/ANDREW WARNER 190714AW25BOP

One of Whakarewarewa's star players this season, Te Rangi Fraser, has been handed his first start in the ITM Cup.

Fraser will start for the Bay of Plenty Steamers tomorrow at fullback against Taranaki in New Plymouth.

Steamers head coach Kevin Schuler said Fraser came off the bench last weekend, in a 56-27 loss to Tasman, and performed well.

"Te Rangi has the confidence to just read the game and see the gaps before other people.

"That is one of his real assets and skills, and he showed that against Tasman and made a couple of great line breaks. So we want to give him a chance to hopefully shine."

Fraser played at first five-eighth during the club season but will be used at fullback against Taranaki.

Schuler is not reading too much into Taranaki's 46-17 thumping of Waikato in Hamilton on Wednesday night.

But he knows his team will face the same powerful, forward-orientated onslaught from Taranaki in New Plymouth from 2.35pm tomorrow.

"One thing it means is they will go into the game very confident and happy to try and roll over us similarly," Schuler said. "I don't think they will change too much and will be happy with what they were able to achieve on attack and the physicality they brought on D.

"We will be up against a good scrum but we need to make sure the physical dominance comes before the first scrum.

"This week has been all about us. We want a game where we fire on all cylinders and this is the game we want it to be. It has been about trying to get our mindset, and understanding among the players, that we have to unleash.

"We want them to clear their minds and play. That is what we are really focusing on and we are hugely confident if they do that, they will put in an outstanding performance."

All ITM Cup players have to be managed carefully through the frenetic scheduling of matches. Schuler has made several changes as the Steamers look to get their first win in this round three match.

All Black-in-waiting Nathan Harris will start at hooker alongside Kane Hames, who has also spent time training with the ABs recently, and tighthead Pingi Tala'apitaga.

There is a new-look loose forward trio, with Carl Axtens shifted to blindside flanker, David Whitecliffe-Davies starting on the openside, with Joe Tupe retained at No8.

Johan Bardoul moves into the second row to partner captain Culum Retallick.

The experienced Kimami Sitauti will start at centre.

Bay of Plenty Steamers v Taranaki, New Plymouth, tomorrow, 2.35pm.
Steamers: 1 Kane Hames, 2 Nathan Harris, 3 Pingi Tala'apitaga, 4 Johan Bardoul, 5 Culum Retallick (c), 6 Carl Axtens, 7 David Whitecliffe-Davies, 8 Joe Tupe, 9 Jono Kitto, 10 Dan Hollinshead, 11 Siaosi Iongi, 12 Doug Edwards, 13 Kimami Sitauti, 14 Tino Nemani, 15 Te Rangi Fraser. Reserves: 16 Joe Royal, 17 Solomona Sakalia, 18 Siegfried Fisihoii, 19 Tim Bond/Jesse Acton, 20 Hamish Gosling, 21 Te Aihe Toma, 22 Byron McGuigan.