Boss battling injury before crucial NPC clash

4.00pm

Waikato fullback Isaac Boss was still battling today to prove his fitness for tomorrow's last-round NPC match against Taranaki in New Plymouth.

Boss, who has made a successful switch from halfback over Waikato's last four games with fullbacks Todd Miller and Loki Crichton injured, has carried knee and ankle injuries this week following last Sunday's win against North Harbour.

Coach John Mitchell said it was the knee that was still causing the most concern and Boss, who has not trained all week, would have to get through the captain's run in New Plymouth this afternoon to prove his fitness for the match.

But there was some optimism from Mitchell as he named Boss to start without bracketing him with any other player.

"Bossy is in at this stage and we'll see how he comes through the captain's run," Mitchell said.

As a precaution, young Waikato B halfback Brendon Leonard travelled to Taranaki with Waikato yesterday afternoon and will move on to the bench if Boss is ruled out.

In that case, Mitchell said he could move try-scoring wing Sosene Anesi to fullback or bring in versatile five-eighth Stephen Donald, who played fullback for Hamilton Old Boys for the last few matches of the Waikato club season this year.

If Anesi moves to fullback, reserve wing Solo Korovata would come into the starting 15.

Meanwhile, halfback Rhys Duggan has recovered sufficiently from his ankle injury to take his place in the No 9 jersey, while centre Richard Kahui, also troubled by an ankle problem and unable to train earlier in the week, has been named on the bench.

Derek Maisey, who has been back in the squad for the past few weeks with two appearances off the bench since returning from a badly broken leg in the Super 12, moves into the starting line-up for the first time this year.

He will start at second five-eighth, with Keith Lowen moving back out to centre in the only change to the named starting 15. Back-up hooker Jamie McQueen returns to the bench after missing last week's game.

Waikato: Isaac Boss, Sosene Anesi, Keith Lowen, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Derek Maisey, David Hill, Rhys Duggan, Steven Bates, Marty Holah, Sean Hohneck, Jono Gibbes (captain), Liam Messam, Deacon Manu, Scott Linklater, David Briggs. Reserves: Jamie McQueen, Nathan White, Ben Paurini, Josh Sole, Stephen Donald, Richard Kahui, Solo Korovata.

Taranaki: Scott Ireland, Sailosi Tagicakibau, James Hilgendorf, Mark Stewart, Shayne Austin, Brock James, Brendan Haami, Brent Thompson, Chris Masoe, John Willis, Reece Robinson, Paul Tito (captain), Gordon Slater, Andrew Hore, Tony Penn. Reserves: Phil Mitchell, Hamish Mitchell, Tomasi Soqeta, Scott Breman, Sam Young, Chris Woods, Craig Fevre.

- NZPA

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