Preview: Southland v Taranaki

Editor

Taranaki will be desperate to pick up their first win of the ITM Cup season when they travel to Invercargill to tackle Southland on Saturday.

Taranaki will be desperate to pick up their first win of the ITM Cup season when they travel to Invercargill to tackle Southland on Saturday.

Defeats to Canterbury and Wellington cannot be viewed as dismal form due to the standing of them, being the competition's two favourite sides.

And with the Stags having fallen to both Tasman and Northland in their opening games, the 'Naki will fancy their chances of getting on the board.

Team news sees Taranaki lose centre Ope Peleseuma after he suffered concussion against Wellington but Berny Hall is back on the flank.

Meanwhile, Southland are boosted by the return of wing Tim Cornforth and back-row Elliot Dixon, who replace Marty McKenzie and Hale T-Pole.

The teams:

Southland: 15 Robbie Robinson, 14 Gareth Williams-Spiers, 13 Bryan Milne, 12 Cardiff Vaega, 11 Tim Cornforth, 10 Scott Eade, 9 Tayler Adams, 8 Elliot Dixon, 7 Tim Boys, 6 John Hardie, 5 Michael Fatialofa, 4 Josh Bekhuis, 3 Nicolas Barrett, 2 David Hall, 1 Jamie Mackintosh.
Replacements: 16 Talemaitoga Tuapati, 17 Tukiterangi Raimona, 18 Hale T-Pole, 19 Naulia Dawai, 20 Nemia Kenatale, 21 Willis Halaholo, 22 Marty McKenzie.

Taranaki: 15 Kurt Baker, 14 Jackson Ormond, 13 Andre Taylor, 12 Isaia Tuifua, 11 Waisake Naholo, 10 Daniel Brooks, 9 Chris Smylie, 8 Blade Thomson, 7 Berny Hall, 6 Kane Barrett, 5 James Broadhurst, 4 Jarrad Hoeata, 3 Shane Cleaver, 2 Rhys Marshall, 1 Carl Carmichael.
Replacements: 16 Timo Tutavaha, 17 Sione Lea, 18 Nemia Soqeta, 19 Mitchell Crosswell, 20 Jamison Gibson-Park, 21 Rick McKenna, 22 Seta Tamanivalu.

Referee: Shane McDermott