Canterbury name side for clash with Taranaki at the showgrounds

Marty Bourke has tinkered with Canterbury’s engine room for Saturdays Bunnings Warehouse NPC clash against Taranaki in Rangiora, with North Canterbury’s Luke Romano back in the second row alongside Ellesmere junior Sam Darry, who made a successful return from a broken arm last week. The duo will be backed up with the physical presence of Zac Gallagher who’s on the bench for his first run in NPC in 2023. 

North Canterbury locals Joe Moody and Ben Funnell will wear one and two with Seb Calder set to start at Tighthead Prop. Canterbury’s loose forward trio of Harmon, Christie and Grace get another shot to further their combinations. 

Alex Harford has been handed a start in the number 10 jersey for the first time this year, with Fergus Burke mssing this weekend’s match.

Ellesmere’s Ngane Punivai gets another crack on the left wing with newly minted All Black Dallas McLeod shifting to the wing and former All Black Ryan Crotty moving into the midfield. Mitchell Drummond will again start at halfback with England international Willi Heinz set to finish the match off the bench. 

“We’re really looking forward to taking our team out to Rangiora, representing the whole of Canterbury is about who we are, so to be able to do that on what will be a very special day for two of our Sub-Unions is a pretty cool” said Coach Marty Bourke. 

“Our jersey this year represents the 48 clubs that make up Canterbury and the training kit we wear every day during the week are the colours of North Canterbury and Ellesmere, which showcases the important places our communities play in making Canterbury successful.”  

“Many of our team come from the wider parts of Canterbury, there is a pathway for kids in the country to chase their dreams and become an All Black or a super rugby player and it’s through the likes of our respective sub unions. This week we have really celebrated our communities so to top it off by going to Rangiora and doing what we love in front of those who we do it for is pretty special”.

Canterbury’s bench is set to pack some punch, with Oli Jager lining up for his 51st cap for Canterbury, with Daniel Lienert-Brown and George Bell adding their weight to the pack. Reed Prinsep makes his long-awaited return to the paddock, while speedsters Jone Rova and Solomon Alaimalo will cover the backs. 

Bourke also said there was plenty of banter in the coaching group this week with Alex Robertson having previously coached Ellesmere in 2017 and 2018, and Matt Todd playing his junior rugby in North Canterbury, highlighting the pathways within Canterbury rugby.