Angus Macdonald gets his chance after missing most of the season with an arm injury. Photo / Getty Images
Auckland coach Pat Lam has made a couple of subtle tweaks to his side for tomorrow night's national championship rugby quarter-final against Taranaki at Eden Park.
Lam described the team who last week lifted the Ranfurly Shield in Christchurch as the best he could name but, with the
physical toll from that game being compounded by a stomach bug that has swept through the camp, he has opted for fresh legs in the pack.
Angus Macdonald has replaced Troy Flavell at blindside flanker and prop Chris Heard will start in place of Saimone Taumoepeau.
Macdonald should be fresh after missing much of the season with an arm injury, while Heard may have been picked for his scrummaging ability.
Auckland's scrum has looked at its most dominant this season with Heard and John Afoa in the front row and Lam could well be keen to gain an edge in an area perceived to be one of Taranaki's strengths.
"We know it's going to be a physical battle," Lam said.
"To have guys like Angus Macdonald and Chris Heard - who are chomping at the bit - to be able to get into the team now is a great bonus."
With all three starting loose forwards able to cover openside, it's likely Onosai'i Tololima-Auva'a, who has recovered from a head knock and been bracketed with outside back Chris Mahony, will be omitted from the reserves.
Tasesa Lavea has been dropped from the 22 altogether after hardly featuring against Canterbury, with Lachie Munro holding down the reserve utility back role.
First five-eighths Isa Nacewa said the team were determined not to suffer post-shield blues.
"[The Canterbury game] took a big toll out of us physically so this week was a lot about recovery and also about getting it right mentally. You have got to learn to park the Shield. That was last week."
The knockout nature of the quarter-finals would ensure there was no let-up this week, he said.
"There are no second chances. 'Naki have been our bogey team for so long that the boys are in a good mindset."
Auckland were also mindful that their worst performance of the season came against Taranaki when they muddled their way to a 22-13 victory.
