Otago v Canterbury

[Stargazer]

Canterbury:

1 Daniel Lienert-Brown
2 Brodie McAlister
3 Chris King
4 Luke Romano (VC)
5 Mitchell Dunshea
6 Tom Sanders
7 Billy Harmon
8 Reed Prinsep
9 Mitchell Drummond (C)
10 Brett Cameron
11 Caleb Makene
12 Phil Burleigh (VC)
13 Braydon Ennor
14 Josh McKay
15 George Bridge

RESERVES
16 Nic Souchon*
17 Alex Hodgman
18 Samu Tawake*
19 Hamish Dalzell
20 Tom Christie
21 Connor Collins
22 Sam Beard
23 Ngane Punivai

*denotes Canterbury Mitre 10 Cup debut

All six changes to the side have been made in the forwards, and there is one positional change with Reed Prinsep moving from the blindside to No. 8 in place of Whetukamokamo Douglas, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the season with a fractured thumb. Tom Sanders steps in to wear the No. 6 jersey.

On the openside, Canterbury welcome the return of Billy Harmon, who has recovered from the knee injury he sustained during his debut Super Rugby season with the Crusaders, to start his first provincial match of 2018, and Tom Christie will provide cover on the bench. 

The loosehead props have rotated this week, with Daniel Lienert-Brown to start in this match, while Alex Hodgman moves to the reserves. At tighthead, Chris King will start and Samu Tawake is in the reserves and on debut for Canterbury, after Sef Fa'agase was ruled out.  Greg Pleasants-Tate will also miss this match through injury, which means Brodie McAlister will earn his first start for the side and another debutant, Nic Souchon, comes on to the bench.

At lock, Hamish Dalzell takes a spot on the bench and Mitch Dunshea is promoted to the starting side to face Otago. 

In Douglas' absence, Mitch Drummond will resume the Canterbury captaincy, supported by Vice-Captains in Luke Romano and Phil Burleigh for this game.

http://www.canterburyrugby.co.nz/newsarticle/68299

[chchfanatic]

Saaammmuuu on debut. One of the main reasons the sumner scrum went so good. Also Nic souchon with a debut. Be interested to see how he goes. Good young player

[Stargazer]

[Tim]

That's a great picture of Tom Hill.

[taniwharugby]

Go Cannnneeerrrbbrrryyyyyyy

[Stargazer]

Awesome, Nick Briant penalises a player for head rubbing. Even if it's not strictly against the law, it's f*cking annoying and it's happening way too often.

[chchfanatic]

Random penalty there for being a dick. Fair enough too. Hate that rubbing head crap

[Hooroo]

That was good and bullshit. Romano pushes that clown because he nodded a small head butt not because of head rub. Glad Canterbury got the penalty.

Coms are fucking hopeless fluffybunnies.

[booboo]

Why have Cantebury got blue socks?

[chchfanatic]

@booboo wahine round.

[Steven Harris]

@hooroo credit to the official for penalising that bull shit,some players need to realise that they all mistakes at that level,and it ain’t so great when it happens to you..

[taniwharugby]

score?

[Steven Harris]

@taniwharugby 45m gone,26 -13 Canty

[Steven Harris]

@steven-harris 52m 26-20 Canty..could be a tight finish with plenty of time to go

[taniwharugby]

@steven-harris dumb, cmon canterbury

[Tim]

Cracking up at the commentators talking up Canterbury's 3rd choice frontrow today.

No one is intimidated by Daniel Lienert-Brown, Brodie McAlister, and Chris King.

[SammyC]

Tim said:

Cracking up at the commentators talking up Canterbury's 3rd choice frontrow today.

No one is intimidated by Daniel Lienert-Brown, Brodie McAlister, and Chris King.

agree with 2/3 of this, I think McAlistair will turn into a very good player tho.

Chris King has always been useless, huge backwards step to bring him back