Waitomo Group: Waikato FPC are back on the road this week as they travel to Hastings to face Hawke’s Bay Tui at Hawke’s Bay Regional Sports Park, in game three of the Farah Palmer Cup on Saturday afternoon.

Head coach, Greg Smith, has made significant changes to his matchday 23. The only change to the front row sees, Vici-Rose Green, comes back into the starting XV as hooker, trading places with Grace Houpapa-Barrett.

Lock, Leomie Klopper, has been named in the starting XV for the first time in 2023. Kloppers will join forces with, Silia Sakalia, in the second row.

There is a new loose forward trio, Roelien du Plessis, makes her Waikato debut at openside flanker. While Leata Puni-Lio has been named at blindside flanker to add to her four provincial caps and the experienced, Ashlee Gaby-Sutherland, has been named at number 8 and one of the co-captains for this match.

Ariana Bayler retains her place at halfback but is joined in the halves by first five eight, Kaea Nepia, who makes her first run on start in her third match for Waikato.

Nepia’s start at flyhalf means, Kiriana Nolan, moves out into the midfield to start at inside centre, forming a new midfield combination with Kihikihi teammate, Rina Paraone, who retains her place at outside centre.

There is also new outside backs combination, Lela Ieremia, moves from fullback to the left wing to allow returning Black Ferns player, Renee Holmes, to start at the back and co-captain the side with Gaby-Sutherland. While Reese Anderson makes her first start of 2023 on the right wing.

In the reserves, Esther Faiaoga-Tilo, returns from Black Ferns duty and will provide impact from the bench as prop cover. Lonita Ngalu-Lavemai has a chance to add to her fifteen provincial caps after being named as centres cover.

Two players have a chance to make their Waikato debuts from the bench, they are Easter Savelio and the Gallagher Women’s Premiership club rugby top points scorer, Aaliyah Konui, have a chance to join du Plessis as newly capped Waikato players.

Waikato take on Hawke’s Bay Tui, at Hawke’s Bay Regional Sports Park, Hastings on Saturday, kick-off is at 2.05pm:

1.    Toka Natua (University)

2.    Vici-Rose Green (Hamilton Old Boys)

3.    Claudia Hobbs (University)

4.    Leomie Kloppers (Hamilton Old Boys)

5.    Silia Sakalia (Melville)

6.    Leata Puni-Lio (Hamilton Old Boys)

7.    Roelien du Plessis (Hamilton Old Boys)*

8.    Ashlee Gaby-Sutherland (Melville) – Co-Captain

9.    Ariana Bayler (Hamilton Old Boys)

10.  Kaea Nepia (Hamilton Old Boys)

11.  Lela Ieremia (Melville)

12.  Kiriana Nolan (Kihikihi)

13.  Rina Paraone (Kihikihi)

14.  Reese Anderson (Hamilton Old Boys)

15.  Renee Holmes (Hamilton Old Boys) – Co-Captain

16.  Grace Houpapa-Barrett (Otorohanga)

17.  Caitlin Crozier (University)

18.  Esther Faiaoga-Tilo (Hamilton Old Boys)

19.  Easter Savelio*

20.  Mia Anderson (University)

21.  Samantha Wood (Melville)

22.  Lonita Ngalu-Lavemai (Hamilton Old Boys)

23.  Aaliyah Konui (Hamilton Old Boys)*

* = Waikato Debuts

Article added: Friday 28 July 2023