Manawatu v Otago
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It's rather odd that with their struggling pack of forwards, the Turbos do not play Lifeimi Mafi in the starting XV. He's a big and strong guy who has a great experience of the fierce forwards battles of the Top 14. He is the kind of lock / Nr.8 who could bring more grunt and power upfront.
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Funny, I was reading that Manawatu line up and lamenting how many flankers are being played as undersized locks in the NPC these days, wondering where all the new big men are, and then I read on and saw the bit about Hughes. Don't know what he weighs in at but he certainly has some height about him. Even better, we can recall him if we need another tall later in the comp, after he's cut his teeth with the Poo!
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Michael Collins (captain), Vilimoni Koroi, Sio Tomkinson, Matt Whaanga, Jona Nareki, Josh Ioane, Kurt Hammer, Dylan Nel, Naulia Dawai, Sione Misiloi, Josh Dickson, Tom Rowe, Hisa Sasagi, Sekonaia Pole, Aki Seiuli
Reserves: Liam Coltman, Tom Hill, Donald Brighouse, Joketani Koroi, Slade McDowall, Melani Matavao, Matt Faddes, Mitchell Scott
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@african-monkey He makes a lot of plays and plays bigger than his size. It's good he's got a contract now.