Rugby: Taranaki and Wellington in earnest for match

NEW PLYMOUTH - It is only a pre-season warm-up rugby match, but Wellington coach Dave Rennie and his Taranaki counterpart Colin Cooper want to win tomorrow.

With the NPC first-division competition kicking off in a fortnight, both are keen to field their best combinations.

Rennie said yesterday that several players who were involved in the Wellington club final would be asked to front up again.

"We want our best line-up on the park, but we will reassess things after the final. There may be a few changes," Rennie said.

"We definitely want to win. Coops will have [Taranaki] organised. There will be no shortage of motivation. With [Hurricanes coach Graham Mourie] in the grandstand, it will be an opportunity for the Taranaki boys to play well in front of him."

Cooper said it was the perfect build-up for his side.

"It's a strong Wellington side, a lot stronger than last year, and we need that sort of competition before our first NPC match against Auckland," he said.

"It's a match both sides will want to win. I want to try different combinations and see how some players perform at this level.

"It's a chance to gauge just where we are at."

There are some key match-ups, with the Hurricanes' loose forward trio of Filo Tiatia, Kupu Vanisi and Semo Sititi up against Taranaki's Campbell Feather, Darryl Fale and Neil Crowley.

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Taranaki: Daryl Lilley, Neil Brew, Kerry Eynon, Faapulou Soolefai, Mark Urwin, Craig Taylor, Richard Jarman, Campbell Feather, Neil Crowley, Andy Slater (captain), Keith Robinson, Darryl Fale, Gordon Slater, Daniel Smith, Tama Tuirirangi. Reserves: Shayne Austin, Bryce Robins, Craig Fevre, Chris Luke, Scott Breman, Tony Penn, Shane McDonald.

Wellington: Shannon Paku, Brad Fleming, Jason O'Halloran, Elvis Seveali'i, Norm Broughton, David Holwell, Jason Spice, Filo Tiatia, Kupu Vanisi, Dion Waller, Inoke Afeaki, Semo Sititi, Morne van der Merwe, Norm Hewitt (captain), Kas Lealamanua. Reserves: Riki Flutey, Junior Fatialofa, Colin Sullivan, Rodney So'oialo, Andrew Gallagher, Mike Edwards, Murray Driver.

- NZPA