King Country rugby coach Garry Crossman has opted for bulk with three changes to his starting lineup for the NPC third division clash against South Canterbury in Te Kuiti on Saturday.
Crossman has put his faith in a heavier forward pack to combat the visitors on what is expected to be a heavy Rugby Park surface after a week of rain.
Blindside flanker Jamahl Hona and lock Aarin Dunster come into the side in place of Kevin Riley and Carl Alcock while Taupo's Adam Hill moves into centre to replace Merv Kiel from last week's 8-9 loss to Horowhenua-Kapiti.
"It's horses for courses, we're aware of that South Canterbury will play a forward-based game and have reasonable size in the forward, we want to match them from the kickoff by putting on our biggest pack," Crossman said.
Riley and Alcock are expected to play significant parts in the game off the bench, Crossman said.
Hill, a late withdrawal from last week due to a car accident, added more straight running options in the midfield where the backline was prone to move across field in Levin.
The Rams had worked hard at training this week, identifying weaknesses in set play at scrums and lineouts.
"Our defence was good but we've changed our structures a bit at lineouts which were awful last week and we put down 250 scrums at Tuesday's training."
Crossman wanted more control from experienced players, including the five-eighth pairing of Michael Blank and Eddie Robinson, who between them boast nearly 160 first-class games.
"I've asked for more leadership than we had as well as more aggression in the contact area."
South Canterbury are an unknown quantity with 12 players gone from the 2002 squad.
The side still possesses several players with 50 or more first-class games. Captain Toby Foster played his 50th game for the union last week, halfback Brett Williamson and winger Glenn Gould both boast more than 60 games and flanker Eric Smith was a New Zealand Divisional 15 player last year.
Coach Steve Tarrant said the biggest hurdle might come in the travel arrangements north.
The team were set to leave Timaru at 6.30am tomorrow by bus for Christchurch airport before flying to Hamilton, via a stopover in Wellington, in the afternoon.
The travel arrangements have meant the team will stay in Hamilton on Friday and Saturday and bus to the game.
"It's going to be a long day for our guys, especially the one's who are from the high country," Tarrant said.
Teams:-
King Country: Kevin Weinberg, David Kara, Adam Hill, Baven Brown, Eddie Robinson, Michael Blank, Ben Needham, Josh Ostern, Jared Needham, Marc Morunga, Aarin Dunster, Jamarl Hona, Cassius Leaf, Craig Bell (captain), Glenn Mulgrew. Reserves: Quentin Brears, Rene Rangi, Carl Alcock, Kevin Riley, Nathan Roberts, Merv Kiel, Ronnie Patea.
South Canterbury: Tevita Latu, Isaac Russell, Faaitu Tuamoheloa, Glen Gould, Pene Latu, Richard Preston, Brett Williamson, Hamish Drennan, Eric Smith, David Phiskie, Tuita Tauelangi, Mark Cochrane, Toby Foster (captain), Tevita Fangupo, Sione Tuliakiono. Reserves: Faingaa Savieti, Nick Wilson, Michael Opie, David Walsh, Mark Tutton, Luke Reihana, Fiti Sitagata.
Referee: Darryl Heibner (Taranaki).
Kickoff: 2.30pm.
- DAILY POST (ROTORUA)
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