Some All Blacks will be nursed back into National Provincial Championship rugby over the next few weeks but hooker Andrew Hore has already received the call up from Taranaki.
Hore, who returned from South Africa with the All Blacks today, will start against Southland in Invercargill on Friday night.
"He's very keen
to play," said Taranaki coach Kieran Crowley.
"He hasn't had much rugby this year and he said after the pre-season game against Wellington he was keen to get back into it."
Hore is the only change from the Taranaki team that beat North Harbour 33-29 in last Saturday's opening NPC game in New Plymouth.
Crowley said Hore's return, at the expense of Phil Mitchell who drops back to the Taranaki second XV, would be a boost to the side ahead of what is expected to be a strong challenge from Southland.
"Phil's played well and he really contributed to the side last week. It's unfortunate, but you have to play an All Black."
Prop Tony Penn will again cover hooker, with Crowley sticking with two props -- Tama Tuirirangi and Hamish Mitchell -- on the bench.
Crowley was happy to start with a win over North Harbour, but said there was still plenty of room for improvement.
"We've still got areas to really work on. Some of our phase ball wasn't quick enough and our receiving of kicks wasn't good," he said.
"A couple of times we created a couple of holes on attack, but never finished and we have to get better at that."
TARANAKI: James Hilgendorf, Sailosi Tagicakibau, Matthew Harvey, Shayne Austin, Lifeimi Mafi, Brock James, Brendan Haami, Brent Thompson, Chris Masoe, Reece Robinson, Paul Tito (captain), John Willis, Gordon Slater, Andrew Hore, Tony Penn. Reserves, Hamish Mitchell, Tama Tuirirangi, Tomasi Soqeta, Scott Breman, Mark Stewart, Scott Ireland, Craig Fevre.
- NZPA
