All six Steelform Wanganui players will start this afternoon's New Zealand Heartland XV clash against the Australian Barbarians at the Levin Domain.
Captain Peter Rowe will return to lead the team at openside flanker after his one game suspension from the NZ Marist clash at Masterton. He will form theloose forward trio with blind side flanker Fraser Hammond and No8 Bryn Hudson. Hooker Cole Baldwin also retains his spot, as do Lindsay Horrocks and Stephen Perofeta as the halfback and first-five combination after their impressive showing against Marist. Both the Heartland XV and the Australians - a new squad made up of players from the national competition who do not have Super Rugby contracts - will be based at the IRANZ Academy in Palmerston North while preparing for the series.
After today's match, the second international will be at Cooks Gardens in Wanganui this Friday at 6pm. Kickoff today in Levin is 5.30pm.
