Wednesday July 28th 2010

Article by Glenn McLean. Source: Taranaki Daily News www.taranakidailynews.co.nz 

For the first time in decades the Taranaki rugby side will play a competition match without a player with at least 50 matches for the province beside his name.

Such has been the change in personnel at Taranaki HQ since the departure of two-term coach Adrian Kennedy last October, that six of the starting XV for tomorrow night's ITM Cup match against Northland will be on debut, eight if you count the uncapped Barrett brothers (Kane and Beauden) on the bench.

Head coach Colin Cooper, who returns to the fold after eight seasons at the Hurricanes, has included all of the union's major off-season signings, although former Canterbury lock James Broadhurst has been bracketed with Leon Power after he took a heavy knock to a calf muscle in Taranaki's 27-24 pre-season loss to Bay of Plenty on Friday.

While Broadhurst sat out training this week, he is expected to recover in time for the Northland match, which would see Power drop out of the 22-man squad, and reserve Kane Barrett and flanker Jarrad Hoeata providing cover at lock.

However, all of the starting new caps have featured for other provinces in recent seasons. Nevertheless, hooker Laurence Corlett comes closest to 50 matches with 42 appearances.

Cooper sprang few surprises in his selections, returning Hurricanes halfback Tyson Keats to the No 9 jersey after he missed the Bay Of Plenty hit-out after taking a knock to his knee the previous week against Waikato, while Shane Cleaver got the nod at loosehead prop ahead of Carl Carmichael, and Michael Bent returns to the tighthead.

There is also a change in the loose forwards, with Chris Walker picked at openside, Jarred Hoeata at blindside and Ben Souness moved to No 8, a combination not tried extensively in any of Tenderlink Taranaki's three pre-season matches.

Walker's inclusion comes at the expense of Samuela Vunisa, who drops to the bench.

"Our defence hasn't been where I want it to be, so know I've got a pretty good defensive unit with those three loosies," Cooper said after naming the side yesterday.

"We'll see how that combination goes because we have got guys to come off the bench to provide more of an attacking game if we have to."

Cooper admitted there had been "tough" calls before the squad took its final shape, with Cleaver's work ethic giving him the edge, while Keats' experience, in arguably the most crucial position, would be welcomed.

"He's more of a voice than Goodie [Brett Goodin]. Goodie knows he has to work harder on being the voice between forwards and backs and that takes time. Keats is 28, he's been through the mill and understands that and is a major voice in our organisation."

Ad Feedback Several players were not considered because of injury, including fullback Scott Ireland, who faces six weeks with his hand in plaster after breaking his thumb against Bay Of Plenty, and centre Willie Rickards is unavailable after being diagnosed with glandular fever last week.

Northland coach Bryce Woodward also named his side yesterday, the major feature being the return of 102-game veteran David Holwell at first five-eighth.

The 35-year-old will play outside former New Plymouth Old Boys' halfback Luke Hamilton, and All Black wing Rene Ranger will start at centre after missing the cut to travel across the Tasman to face the Wallabies on Saturday