Mako team named for Canterbury

The Tasman Mako men’s team to take on Canterbury in a Bunnings Warehouse NPC clash on Saturday at Trafalgar Park has been named.

The Tasman management have made minimal changes to the team which opened their campaign with a 54-21 win away to Manawatu on Sunday.

The forward pack, which performed with power and pace in Palmerston North, is unchanged, the only change coming in the backline where influential midfielder David Havili is recalled to the All Blacks environment, being replaced by Levi Aumua. The big ball-carrier will slot in at centre, English import Will Butler moving to second five-eights.

On the bench, prop Sam Matenga replaces Isaac Salmon, while Kyren Taumoefolau is set to make his Mako debut, taking Aumua’s place.

This will be the 120^th Mako match for Quentin MacDonald, the 20^th for Sykes-Martin. The match kicks off at 2.05pm.

Canterbury opened their account last weekend with a 34-21 home win over Northland.

Mako team: 1 Ryan Coxon, 2 Sam Moli, 3 Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 4 Quinten Strange (c), 5 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 6 Max Hicks, 7 Sione Havili Talitui, 8 Fletcher Anderson, 9 Finlay Christie, 10 Willi Havili, 11 Jack Gray, 12 Will Butler, 13 Levi Aumua, 14 Timoci Tavatavanawai, 15 Macca Springer. Sparkies: Quentin MacDonald, Monu Moli, Sam Matenga, Hunter Leppien, Braden Stewart, Louie Chapman, Campbell Parata, Kyren Taumoefolau.