Southland will miss Dermody

Southland's forward coach David Henderson has put the acid on his team to rise above the loss of inspirational captain Clarke Dermody.

The powerful prop has been ruled out of Sunday's Air New Zealand Cup away game against Counties Manukau with a sternum injury that forced him off the field late in last week's loss to Otago.

The injury ends Dermody's remarkable 58 consecutive national championship first division games for the Stags.

Dermody's place has been taken by big Australian import Ben Coutts in his first championship start, with last season's regular tighthead Jayden Murch coming on to the reserves' bench.

The only other starting 15 change from the 15-8 loss to Otago is also in the front row, with Jason Rutledge coming in for David Hall at hooker.

Coach Henderson knows the significance of Dermody's withdrawal for his battling team, who have one win from four Pool B cup games.

"He is a big loss," Henderson said.

"But I guess that means that other guys get chances. And to me, when you lose a player like that, it is motivation for the others to work that a bit harder."

Fortunately, Counties Manukau also has propping concerns, with Poaloi Taula out after being suspended for one week after a dangerous tackle in his team's narrow loss to Waikato last week.

Sione Sione will have his first championship start at prop for the Steelers, meaning the Stags should still hold an edge in the front row battle.

"We're pretty comfortable that we've still got a pretty strong front row, with Jayden Murch coming into the reserves and Ben Coutts starting. And with (New Zealand Colts' captain) Jamie (Mackintosh) on the other side, we're still pretty strong," Henderson said.

But a strong scrum won't be enough for the Stags to overcome a Counties team who have yet to record a win, but have pushed Waikato and Otago close.

Henderson said he and fellow coach Simon Culhane had worked hard all week to try to find out why the team were failing to convert territorial and possession dominance into points.

It has cost the Stags dearly, especially last week against Otago.

"Hopefully those things that have been letting us down will come together on Sunday," he said.

"There's been talk about slowing things down, working together as a unit rather than individuals in the forwards. And looking at opportunities that may arise out wide that we haven't been doing in the last couple of games."

The Stags will come up against a Counties team at Mount Smart Stadium that have been boosted by the selection of Wellington and New Zealand junior lock Ross Kennedy.

He is set to make his Counties Manukau debut off the bench after being snapped up by Steelers' coach Kevin Putt this week after the Hurricanes' second-rower was put on the loan market.

- NZPA