All change for Mako men

Tasman rugby’s top-level depth will be fully tested at Forsyth Barr Stadium on Saturday.

The Mako selectors have taken a calculated gamble, naming an almost completely new-look team to meet Otago in their round eight clash.

Tasman are entering their “Storm Week” and, with that in mind, plus the fact the Ranfurly Shield will go on the line in their next two matches (against Auckland on Wednesday and, hopefully, Taranaki on Sunday), the management have opted to rest most of their preferred starting line-up.

Eight players are in line to make their Mako debut on Saturday, most coming from local clubs and out of the Tasman Development side. Just four players, prop Isaac Salmon, flanker Johnny Lee, halfback Louie Chapman and fullback Kyren Taumoefolau, remain from the starting line-up against Waikato last week.

Hooker Eli Oudenryn, prop Monu Moli, lock Hunter Leppien, flanker Braden Stewart and centre Nic Sauira, who were reserves last week, have been called into the starting XV for Saturday, with last week’s reserve halfback, Mason Lund, remaining on the bench.

Among the many new faces in the run-on side are lock Tayne Hemepo, the interestingly-named East Timor Viliamu, who comes in at No 8, NZ under-20 first five Cooper Grant and former MBC standout Cooper Roberts, who starts on the right wing.

Long-serving Mako utility Tim O’Malley is recalled to add experience in midfield while winger Jack Gray returns from injury.

On the bench the selectors have rewarded a group of players who impressed in club play, namely front rowers Josh Te Hira, Matt Graham-Williams and Sione Mafi, lock Matt McCormick, plus outside backs Timoci Sauira and Maloni Kunawave. Chapman will captain the side.

Otago sit 11^thon the NPC table, having picked up three wins thus far, against Auckland, Bay of Plenty and Manawatu.

Tasman, second on the table, put their unbeaten record in the hands of an untried and relatively inexperienced combination, while offering an opportunity for some of the lesser lights to put their hand up for future selection.

There will be no shortage of motivation among the rookies to live up to the standard their Mako men have set during this historic season.

The Mako team to play Otago:1 Monu Moli, 2 Eli Oudenryn, 3 Isaac Salmon, 4 Hunter Leppien, 5 Tayne Hemepo, 6 Johnny Lee, 7 Braden Stewart, 8 East Timor Viliamu, 9 Louie Chapman (captain), 10 Cooper Grant, 11 Jack Gray, 12 Tim O’Malley, 13 Nic Sauira, 14 Cooper Roberts, 15 Kyren Taumoefolau. Sparkies: Josh Te Hira, Matt Graham-Williams, Sione Mafi, Matt McCormick, Tim Sail, a Lund, Timoci Sauira, Maloni Kunawave.

The match kicks off at 4.35pm Saturday.