Front-rowers back to test their former rivals

It's the rugby equivalent of two young pups returning to teach a couple of old dogs new tricks.

Bay of Plenty front-row forwards Simms Davison and Ben Castle return to Carisbrook today determined to show they've come of age and are worthy disciples of the murky art of propping.

It's no small task. Opposing them in the Otago side are two of the strongmen of New Zealand rugby, All Blacks Joe McDonnell and Carl Hoeft.

Davison and Castle were spat out of the Otago front-row production line early. Loosehead Davison arrived in Bay of Plenty last year and tighthead Castle followed him into the top lineup this season.

Both admit their prospects in Otago were overshadowed by the likes of Hoeft, McDonnell, Carl Hayman and Kees Meeuws.

The pair played premier club rugby together for Otago University, for various age-grade teams and for the provincial development team, and Davison also made the Highlanders under-23 side.

Now they've proved their worthiness for a first-division pack, and are anxious to demonstrate it to their former rivals.

"Ben and I have played against these guys for the past five years - us both being from Otago - so we know them pretty well," said Davison, originally from Matamata.

"And the good thing about it is that every year Ben and I are getting stronger and better, and every year we come up against them, it's getting easier and easier."

They've certainly had every chance to develop their combination.

For the fourth successive week, BoP coach Vern Cotter has named the same starting lineup - a notable achievement in the NPC cauldron.

His only changes come once again in the reserves, where halfback Kyle O'Brien, second five-eighth Dale Rasmussen and reserve hooker Ngarimu Simpkins all get their chances.

But it's that consistency of selection - a reward for a good start to the season - which is helping the front-row club get better.

"Last year we were just putting all our policies in place, and implementing took a while throughout the season," Davison said. "This year we've had the same coaches, we've had all the same moves and everyone knows where they're going and what they're doing."



Otago coach Greg Cooper has not had that luxury. Hayman and lock Simon Maling were injured last week and Hoeft and Peter Bowden have been called in to replace them.

McDonnell, who injured his knee against Southland, has been bracketed with Jeremy Aldworth at loosehead prop, while Hoeft, a specialist loosehead, will play at tighthead in place of the powerful Hayman.

It will be Hoeft's first first-class match since the test against Wales in Hamilton on June 21.

Former Hawkes Bay schoolboy star Glen Horton will make his first-division debut at fullback and Fijian international Aisea Tuilevu replaces Matt Saunders on the right wing.

But the biggest change is at first-five, where Willie Walker will start in place of Tony Brown, who played in the first two games, but has been spelled as the coaching and medical staff manage his recovery from injury.

Despite all the changes, Davison regarded Otago as a stronger team than Canterbury were last week, especially with a loose forward contingent containing Josh Blackie and Sam Harding.

Otago: Glen Horton, Aisea Tuilevu, Neil Brew, Seilala Mapusua, Brad Fleming, Willie Walker, Byron Kelleher, Sam Harding, Josh Blackie, Kelvin Middleton (capt), Peter Bowden, Filipo Levi, Carl Hoeft, Anton Oliver, Joe McDonnell/Jeremy Aldworth. Res: Tom Willis, Aldworth/Ben Nolan, Warren Smith, Samiu Vahafolau; Danny Lee, Mathew Berquist, Matt Saunders.

Bay of Plenty: Damon Kaui, Anthony Tahana, Alan Bunting, Grant McQuoid, Charles Baxter, Glen Jackson, Kevin Senio, Clayton McMillan (capt), Nili Latu, Wayne Ormond, Bernie Upton, Mark Sorenson, Ben Castle, Aleki Lutui, Simms Davison. Res: Ngarimu Simpkins, Guy Shepherdson, Paul Tupai, Rodney Voullaire; Kyle O'Brien, Dale Rasmussen, Apoua Stewart.

Referee: Paul Honiss.

Kickoff: 2.35pm.

- NZPA