Waikato include four newcomers in line-up

1.00pm

Four players will make their NPC debut for Waikato against Southland when the first division rugby competition kicks off tomorrow night.

The absence of four All Blacks and injuries have opened opportunities for the newcomers -- two in the backs and two in the forwards.

Otorohanga's Fijian wing Solo Korovata and 19-year-old Te Rapa centre Richard Kahui, originally from Tokoroa, get their first starts in the backline.

Twenty-year-old New Zealand sevens captain Liam Messam gets his start at blindside flanker and young Te Awamutu front rower Nathan White has been given the job of anchoring the scrum at tight-head prop.

In addition to the longer term absentees through injury, Pacific Islanders wing Sitiveni Sivivatu (hamstring), prop Michael Collins (calf) and hooker Scott Linklater (ribs) didn't make it through training and will sit out this week's match.

Coach John Mitchell said the rookies would find the intensity and the tackle line from the opposition different to anything they had experienced.

But they had to start their careers at this level at some time and the 80 minutes they had in pre-season games would help.

Because Waikato had known for some time they would be without several All Blacks and players who have had major injuries, they had prepared with a big pre-season training squad.

"And some guys didn't come through today so other guys have got their opportunity, which is refreshing," Mitchell said.

"There'll be a good pay-off eventually (with these young players). It just augurs well. The development/academy system in Waikato rugby is starting to show some good signs and we've needed more of them this year than we ever had in recent times."

Crucially, there was still good experience in certain spots in the team, allowing for a good balance of newcomers and experience.

Alongside White -- who before he suffered a calf injury had impressed Mitchell through the first round of club rugby in his specialist area as well as his leg speed and willingness to learn -- are a couple of wily old front-row campaigners in David Briggs and Greg Smith.

Mitchell has gone for a seasoned five-eighth combination of David Hill and Keith Lowen outside halfback Isaac Boss and inside Kahui, with New Zealand Colts five-eighth Stephen Donald on the bench.

"That frontline inside back combination I've been looking at for some time and through the construction of it I've always known I'd be able to play two different combinations," Mitchell said.

Hill and Donald were able to play either first or second five, and Lowen could play both midfield back positions, as could Kahui and Dwayne Sweeney. The latter, who turned 20 on Sunday, missed out on the 22 this week.

"Keith's a very nice passer who seems to get a little bit more room in that area," Mitchell said.

Waikato: Todd Miller, Sosene Anesi, Richard Kahui, Solo Korovata, Keith Lowen, David Hill, Isaac Boss, Steven Bates (captain), Scott Couch, Sean Hohneck, Dave Duley, Liam Messam, Nathan White, Greg Smith, David Briggs. Reserves: Jamie McQueen, David van Eyk, Josh Sole, Joel McKenty, Rhys Duggan, Stephen Donald, Filimoni Bolavucu.

- NZPA

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