Huxley in doubt for Shield challenge

1.00pm

Though Julian Huxley has been named in Northland's starting 15 for their NPC-Ranfurly Shield rugby match at Jade Stadium on Saturday, there is doubt he will play.

First five-eighth Huxley has picked up a mystery virus but is still hoping to make the team.

Northland coach Bruce Hodder named the Australian in the run-on side even though he has not been sighted at training all week.

"The starting 22 stays the same even though there's some doubt over Julian. He is quite sick and has not trained at all this week," Hodder said.

"But if he is not there we just have to get on with it, there's not much we can do about that.

"It is viral and he has been running at about 60 per cent for over a week now. But you never know. Another couple of days and the antibiotics might kick in."

While staying faithful to his travelling squad of 22, there are two changes to the starting team with halfback John Senio back, along with hooker Tim Dow.

Dow and Senio were rested while Simon Lemalu and Rhyan Caine played against Wellington last week.

Hodder has been alarmed by the performance of his forwards in the past three weeks though, especially in the scrummaging department.

Northland were cruelly exposed at scrum time against Wellington, shoved off the ball at a crucial moment when they played Bay of Plenty and under pressure in the match against North Harbour.

"If players don't measure up I might go to the bench earlier," Hodder said.

"Up until three weeks ago we held our own but we haven't since (playing) Bay of Plenty."

To help solve the scrummaging problems, All Blacks scrum coach Mike Cron helped the team yesterday.

In the backs Hodder might push Hayden Taylor to fullback but has the option of using winger Matt Faleuka there, putting Thomas Toailoa in the midfield and reintroducing Aaron Baigent on the wing.

"The backline stays the same unless Julian is not good, then Jared (Going) pushes forward and I reshuffle the backline," Hodder said.

Northland: Jared Going (captain), Fero Lasagavibau, Manu Burkhardt-Macrae, Hayden Taylor, Matt Faleuka, Julian Huxley, John Senio, Jake Paringatai, Aaron Wright, Maseke Davu, Brad Taylor, Tim Henwood, Ryan Wederall, Tim Dow, Bronson Murray.

Reserves: Simon Lemalu, Stan Wright, Mike von Dincklage, Luke Ottley, Rhyan Caine, Josh Levi, Aaron Baigent.

- NORTHERN ADVOCATE (WHANGAREI)

* See Super Sport in the Herald on Friday for an in-depth profile of Waikato's try-scoring sensation Sosene Anesi

NPC fixtures, results and standings
Division One | Division Two |