Mako contenders take on Wellington side in Blenheim

Waitohi utility back Tim O’Malley will lead a formidable-looking Mako Wider Training Group side against their Wellington counterparts at Lansdowne Park tomorrow.

O’Malley is just one of several players in the side who have been part of the Mako set-up over the past few seasons.

Among his fellow backs, winger Jamie Spowart and fullback Andrew Knewstubb are perhaps the most experienced at a higher level.

Knewstubb has been an influential member of the NZ Sevens side on the international circuit since 2017 and a member of the Kiwi team that were awarded the 2020 title after COVID caused an early cancellation. He is committed to chasing a place in the Mako squad this year and has regularly stood out for his Kahurangi club side this season.

Up front, loose forward Braden Stewart and lock Te Ahiwaru Cirikidavata have both featuring for the Mako over previous seasons.

Isaiah Miller, formerly preferred at No 8, will start on the blind side of the scrum, while exciting midfielder Timoci Tavatavanawai is chosen at left wing.

Coach Gray Cornelius expects Wellington to front with a very strong side, including players who featured in last season’s Mitre 10 Cup final and from the Hurricanes’ wider training group.

However, he welcomes the challenge and the opportunity to run the rule over a wide group of players. With uncertainty over All Blacks games and selection, injuries to contracted players and a loss of leadership from within the Mako ranks this year, he says he and his fellow selectors expect to have to lean heavily on players from club ranks in 2020.

“Matches like this offer guys an opportunity to show that they can play at the next level,” he added.

“It’s exciting … the guys have been training for this match for a long time now.”

Given the unusual circumstances surrounding this year’s sporting schedules, this will be the only WTG squad match in 2020. Previously Tasman have managed to play more matches before they get their Mitre 10 Cup squad together in in late August.

Prior to the cup competition the Mako will play one pre-season match, against Canterbury in Hanmer on Friday, September 4, before the NPC begins on September 12.

The Mako WTG team is:

1 Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 2 Leopino Maupese, 3 Sam Matenga, 4 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 5 Max Hicks, 6 Isaiah Miller, 7 Braden Stewart, 8 Taina Fox-Matamua; 9 Mitch Barry, 10 Campbell Parata, 11 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 12 Tim O’Malley (captain), 13 Nick Foxley, 14 Jamie Spowart, 15 Andrew Knewstubb.

Reserves. Forwards: Matt Graham-Williams, Eden Beech, Blair Prinsep, Hopoate Taufa, Taine Cragg-Love, Antonio Shalfoon, Caleb Havili. Backs: Cleve Barrell, Apetone Vaka, Michael Stringer, Louie Chapman. Coach: Gray Cornelius.

The match kicks off at 2.30pm at Lansdowne Park.