Haig to test rotation theory

WANGANUI'S Heartland rugby squad will try that All Black rotation theory this season.
Coach Milton Haig has made four changes and one positional change in his starting line-up for tomorrow's Buller match at Westport, and says that all members of the squad will get plenty of game time through the first round.
The reason? Haig says the selectors were caught a little short last year by using a strong starting line-up in each game in their aim at qualifying first and getting a home semi.
When a couple of key players were injured late, that meant players with inadequate game time had to be introduced.
"So we don't want to be caught out again," Haig said.
So the fresh starters for tomorrow are wing Roko Bativagone, second five-eighth Steelie Koro, loosehead prop Mike Thompson and No 8 Ron Katonivere.
The positional change sees Pehira Huwyler move out one to take the unavailable Logan Vaughan's place. Bativagone takes Asaeli Tikoirotuma's place after the latter did not attend training, apparently because of a shoulder problem.
Katonivere's start was expected after he received a few minutes' initiation in the wet against East Coast last week. Katonivere offers more pace and wide-ranging support than does the bigger Matt Gilbert, and Haig says that's the kind of game Wanganui wants to play against Buller weather permitting.
But while last night's training run was slick and enthusiastic, there was one losing aspect for the squad.
Lock Andrew Slight was forced to withdraw from the squad after suffering a recurrence of a neck problem in Tuesday night's training. Slight revisited his specialist, who booked him in for a MRI scan but that won't be for eight weeks.
He's been advised to stop playing all rugby this season and will "see" how things are next year before making a decision on whether to try again.
That leaves the squad perilously light on experienced locks following the previous unavailabilities of Dan Aldworth (gone to Otago), and Mike Fitzgerald (to Scotland).
Haig says there has been no time to assess whether a replacement should be sought, although he points out Matt Gilbert is able to play lock.
THE MATCH-UP Venue: Wanganui versus Buller, Westport.
Steelform Wanganui: Mitieli Dravo, Juan Visser, Pehira Huwyler, Steelie Koro, Roko Bativagone, Leon Mason, Denning Tyrell (capt), Ron Katonivere, David Gower, Fraser Hammond, Dean Barr, John Smyth, Sheldon O'Hagan, Shane Ratima, Mike Thompson. Subs: Cole Baldwin, Justin Lock, Nemia Adrole, Matt Gilbert, Ricky Alabaster, Brendon Bartley, Saula Radidi.
Buller: Matt Bonisch, Sam Marris, Marcus Taylor, Michael Mumm, Paul Clarkson, Nathan Thompson, Andrew Stephens, Jo Yalayala, Luke Brownlee, Phil Rossiter, Bradley Walters, Craig Moore, Clark Nelson (capt), Ryan Hughes, Gavin Briggs. Subs: Glen Atkin, Mike O'Brien, Verran Robertson, Gene Simmiss, Jourdan Cross, Stu Neighbours, Ross Gardner.