All Blacks Cullen Grace, Peter Umaga-Jensen and Tyrel Lomax have been released from Bledisloe Cup preparations to play for their provinces in Mitre 10 Cup this weekend.
Loose forward Grace will front for Canterbury, midfielder Umaga-Jensen for Wellington and prop Lomax for Tasman, effectively ruling them out of selection for the trans-Tasman test in the capital on Sunday.
Former All Blacks lock Isaac Ross will also bolster Tasman Mako forward stocks for the rest of the season, after returning from several seasons with the Shining Arcs club in Japan.
Official team lists and injury news for this week's provincial rugby championship games.
Manawatu v Canterbury
7pm Friday, October 9
Central Energy Trust Arena, Palmerston North
Manawatū: 1-Chris Eves, 2-Sam Stewart, 3-Michael Alaalatoa, 4-Liam Mitchell, 5-Micaiah Torrance-Read, 6-TK Howden, 7-Shamus Hurley-Langton, 8-Tyler Laubscher, 9-Jamie Booth (c), 10-Ben Wyness, 11-Adam Boult, 12-James Tofa, 13-Josiah Maraku, 14-Nigel Ah Wong, 15-Nehe Milner-Skudder
Reserves: 16-Siua Maile, 17-Tietie Tuimauga, 18-Kyle Stewart, 19-Tom Hughes, 20-Johnny Galloway, 21-Bryn Wilson, 22-Stewart Cruden, 23-Drew Wild
The Turbos have made two changes to their starting side with wings Adam Boult and Nigel Ah Wong coming into the XV.
On the bench, Tom Hughes looks set for his first game of the season.
Canterbury: 1-Finlay Brewis, 2-Scott Mellow, 3-Tamaiti Williams, 4-Luke Romano, 5-Sam Darry, 6-Reed Prinsep (c), 7-Billy Harmon, 8-Whetukamokamo Douglas, 9-Ere Enari, 10-Fergus Burke, 11-Isaiah Punivai, 12-Rameka Poihipi, 13-Ngatungane Punivai, 14-Chay Fihaki, 15-Andrew Knewstubb
Reserves: 16-Shilo Klein, 17-Lewis Ponini, 18-Fletcher Newell, 19-Cullen Grace, 20-Tom Christie, 21-Mitchell Drummond, 22-Brett Cameron, 23-Josh McKay.
Canterbury have made eight changes to their team, with the majority of them in the forward pack.
Coach Ruben Thorne has named a brand-new front row, with Sam Darry at lock and Billy Harmon and Whetukamokamo Douglas also included. In the backs, Ere Enari and Andrew Knewstubb have also been added to the XV.
Newly named All Black Cullen Grace returns to the side to take his place on the bench.
Taranaki v Auckland
2pm Saturday, October 10
TET Stadium & Events Centre, Inglewood
Auckland: 1-James Lay, 2-Leni Apisai, 3-Marcel Renata, 4-Scott Scrafton, 5-Jack Whetton, 6-Adrian Choat, 7-Blake Gibson, 8-Waimana Reidlinger-Kapa, 9-Taufa Funaki, 10-Harry Plummer, 11-Salesi Rayasi, 12-TJ Faiane, 13-Tumua Manu, 14-AJ Lam, 15-Jordan Trainor
Reserves: 16-Soane Vikena, 17-Jarrad Adams, 18-Marco Fepulea’i, 19-Hamish Dalzell, 20-Niko Jones, 21-Jonathan Ruru, 22-Simon Hickey, 23-Tanielu Tele'a
Soane Vikena and Niko Jones - son of All Blacks legend Michael Jones - will be in line for their Auckland debuts for Saturday’s fixture.
Harry Plummer will move into the first-five position, while Simon Hickey will be hoping to inject some energy from the bench later in the game.
Taranaki: 1-Reuben O'Neill, 2-Ricky Riccitelli 3-Ben May, 4-Kaylum Boshier, 5-Findlamor Hoeata, 6-Mitchell Crosswell, 7-Lachlan Boshier, 8-Pita Gus Sowakula, 9-Warwick Lahmert, 10-Stephen Perofeta, 11-Lewis Ormand, 12-Daniel Waite, 13-Sean Wainui, 14-Jacob Raumaitayuki-Kneepkens, 15-Jayson Potroz
Reserves: 16-Bradley Slater, 17-Chris Gawler, 18-Donald Brighouse, 19-Josh Lord, 20-Mitchell Brown, 21-Lisati Milo-Harris, 22-Codey Rei, 23-Lukas Halls.
Taranaki coach Willie Rickards has made four changes to the side that lost to Northland.
Pita Gus Sowakula has been named to start at No.8, after he made his first appearance of the season off the bench in Whangarei, while hooker Ricky Riccitelli and Mitchell Crosswell also return to the starting XV.
Crosswell's elevation from the bench sees Kaylum Boshier move from the loose forward trio into the second row, with young lock Josh Lord moving into the reserves after a heavy workload to start his season. The experienced Warwick Lahmert replaces Lisati Milo-Harris at halfback.
North Harbour v Hawke's Bay
2pm Saturday, October 10
North Harbour Stadium
North Harbour: 1-Nic Mayhew, 2-Luteru Tolai, 3-Sione Mafileo, 4-Gerard Cowley-Tuioti, 5-Jacob Pierce, 6-Ethan Roots (cc), 7-Dillon Hunt, 8-Murphy Taramai, 9-Bryn Hall, 10-Bryn Gatland (cc), 11-Tomas Aoake, 12-Antonio Mikaele -Tu'u, 13-James Little, 14-Jared Page, 15-Shaun Stevenson
Reserves: 16-Zane Turner, 17-Teague McElroy, 18-Jimmy Roots, 19-Xavier Cowley-Tuioti, 20-Tim Sail, 21-Lewis Gjaltema, 22-Jack Heighton, 23-Asaeli Tikoirotuma
North Harbour have made a couple of adjustments to the team that stunned Tasman last weekend. Dillon Hunt returns to the starting line-up, sending Tim Sail to the bench, while Ngarohi McGarvey-Black makes way for Jared Page on the right wing.
Hawke's Bay: 1-Jason Long, 2-Kianu Kereru-Symes, 3-Joel Hintz, 4-Isaia Walker-Leawere, 5-Bryn Evans, 6-Marino Mikaele-Tu'u, 7-Brendon O'Connor, 8-Gareth Evans, 9-Connor McLeod, 10-Caleb Makene, 11-Mason Emerson, 12-Ollie Sapsford, 13-Sam McNicol 14-Neria Fomai, 15-Kurt Baker
Reserves: 16-Jacob Devery, 17-Sona Taumalolo, 18-Pouri Rakete-Stones, 19-Geoff Cridge, 20-Solomone Funaki, 21-Folau Fakatava, 22-Lincoln McClutchie, 23-Anzelo Tuitavuki
Hawke's Bay coach Mark Ozich has made mass changes to his side to face North Harbour with just three players retaining their places in the starting side.
The wholesale changes see hooker Kianu Kereru-Symes captain the side in the absence of Ash Dixon, with prop Sona Taumalolo and two-test All Black bryn Evans playing their first games of the season.
Wellington v Otago
4:30pm Saturday, October 10
Sky Stadium, Wellington
Wellington: 1-Xavier Numia, 2-James O’Reilly, 3-Alex Fidow, 4-James Blackwell, 5-Taine Plumtree, 6-Vaea Fifita, 7-Du'Plessis Kirifi, 8-Teariki Ben-Nicholas, 9-Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, 10-Jackson Garden-Bachop, 11-Julian Savea, 12-Vince Aso, 13-Peter Umaga-Jensen, 14-Wes Goosen, 15-Trent Renata
Reserves: 16-Tyrone Thompson, 17-Ben Aumua-Peseta, 18-Kaliopasi Uluilakepa, 19-Caleb Delany, 20-Mateaki Kafatolu, 21-Connor Collins, 22-Aidan Morgan, 23-Pepesana Patafilo
Coach Leo Crowley has made three changes to his starting XV with Taine Plumtree gets his first Mitre 10 Cup start at lock while Trent Renata slots in at fullback. Peter Umaga-Jensen starts after being released from All Blacks camp.
There are also two changes on the bench with Kaliopasi Uluilakepa and Aidan Morgan coming into the matchday squad.
Otago: 1-Jamie Mackintosh, 2-Liam Coltman , 3-Josh Hohneck, 4-Jack Regan, 5-Josh Dickson, 6-Charles Eaton, 7-Dylan Nel, 8-Sione Misiloi , 9-Kayne Hammngton, 10-Josh Ioane, 11-Jona Nareki, 12-Aleki Morris, 13-Josh Timu, 14-Vilimoni Koroi, 15-Michael Collins
Reserves: 16-Ricky Jackson , 17-George Bower, 18-Yoshihisa Sasagi, 19-Will Tucker, 20-Samuel Fischli, 21-Jono Hickey, 22-Freedom Vahaakolo, 23-Sean Withy
Josh Dickson returns from injury to claim a start at lock, while Samuel Fischli and Jono Hickey both get a chance to make their Otago debuts off the bench.
The front row is strengthened by prop Jamie Mackintosh and ex-All Blacks hooker Liam Coltman, while Josh Timu and Michael Collins switch positions at the back,
Waikato v Counties Manukau
7pm Saturday, October 10
FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Counties Manukau: 1-Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 2-Zuriel Togiatama, 3-Conan O'Donnell, 4-Potu Leavasa, 5-Matiaha Martin/Mickey Woolliams, 6-Jonathan Kawau, 7-Alamanda Motuga, 8-Sam Slade, 9-Jonathan Taumateine, 10-Jason Robertson, 11-Sione Fifita, 12-Orbyn Leger (c), 13-Sione Molia, 14-Kirisi Kuridrani, 15-Etene Nanai-Seturo
Reserves: 16-Donald Maka, 17-Clinton Malolua, 18-Suetena Asomua, 19-Viliame Rarasea, 20-Viliame Taulani, 21-Cameron Roigard, 22-Latiume Fosita, 23-Tevita Nabura
Jason Robertson has been rewarded for his impressive performance from the bench against Manawatu last week with a start ahead of Baden Kerr.
All Blacks Sevens star Sione Molia has recovered from a niggling knee injury that has kept him sidelined him the past few weeks to take his place at centre, with skipper Orbyn Leger moving in to second-five and Latiume Fosita to the bench.
Waikato: 1-Rob Cobb, 2-Samisoni Taukei’aho, 3-Josh Iosefa-Scott , 4-Hamilton Burr, 5-Samipeni Finau, 6-Adam Thomson, 7-Mitch Jacobson, 8-Luke Jacobson, 9-Xavier Roe, 10-Fletcher Smith, 11-Patrick Osborne, 12-Matty Lansdown, 13-Quinn Tupaea, 14-Liam Coombes-Fabling, 15-Beaudein Waaka
Reserves: 16-Steven Misa, 17-Ollie Norris, 18-Josh Iosefa-Scott, 19-James Thompson, 20-Liam Messam, 21-Cortez Ratima, 22-Rivez Reihana, 23-Gideon Wrampling
Most of the changes to the starting 15 are in the backs. The regular halves pairing of Xavier Roe and Fletcher Smith return to halfback and first five eight respectively. With Roe and Smith returning, Cortez Ratima and Rivez Reihana will provide impact from the reserves bench.
Quinn Tupaea is back after a week off and takes over at his regular position of outside centre. He is joined by Matty Lansdown at inside centre to make up a new midfield pairing.
Patrick Osborne retains his place on the left wing and Liam Coombes-Fabling shifts from fullback to the right wing. Coombes-Fabling's move to the wing sees Beaudein Waaka named at fullback for his Waikato debut.
Tasman v Bay of Plenty
1:15pm Sunday, October 11
Trafalgar Park, Nelson
Tasman: 1-Isi Tu'ungafasi, 2-Andrew Makalio, 3-Tyrel Lomax, 4-Alex Ainley, 5-Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 6-Jacob Norris, 7-Sione Havili, 8-Hugh Renton, 9-Finlay Christie, 10-Mitch Hunt, 11-Leicester Fainga'anuku, 12-Alex Nankivell, 13-Fetuli Paea, 14-Mark Telea, 15- David Havili
Reserves: 16-Quentin MacDonald, 17-Ryan Coxon, 18-Samuel Matenga, 19-Isaac Ross, 20-Braden Stewart, 21-Louie Chapman, 22-Kieran Fonotia, 23-Tima Fainga'anuku
Looking to bounce back from a rare defeat last weekend, the Mako have welcomed in All Blacks prop Tyrel Lomax into the fold, while Isaac Ross comes off the bench for a potential debut for his new province.
Bay of Plenty: 1-Jordan Lay, 2-Nathan Vella, 3-Jeff Thwaites, 4-Stan van den Hoven, 5-Keepa Mewett, 6-Aaron Carroll, 7-Mitch Karpik, 8-Joe Tupe, 9-Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 10-Otere Black, 11-Chase Tiatia, 12-Dan Hollinshead, 13-Regan Ware, 14-Emoni Narawa, 15-Kaleb Trask
Reserves: 16-Nic Souchon, 17-Ross Geldenhuys, 18-Tevita Mafileo, 19-Kurt Eklund, 20-Joe Johnston, 21-Leroy Carter, 22-Scott Curry, 23-Joe Webber
Sevens star Regan Ware and Blues hooker Kurt Eklund are set to play their 15th games for their Bay of Plenty Steamers blazer.
Northland v Southland
1:15pm Sunday, October 11
Semenoff Stadium, Whangarei
Northland: 1-Ross Wright, 2-Jordan Olsen, 3-Coree Te Whata-Colley, 4-Sam Caird, 5-Temo Mayanavanua, 6-Tom Robinson, 7-Kara Pryor, 8-Matt Matich, 9-Sam Nock, 10-Dan Hawkins, 11-Pisi Leilua, 12-Blake Hohaia, 13-Rene Ranger, 14-Jone Macilai, 15- Scott Gregory
Reserves: 16-Paddy Atkins, 17-Luatangi Li, 18-Kalolo Tuiloma, 19-Fano Funaki, 20-Rob Rush, 21-Will Grant, 22-Johnny Cooper, 23-Kalani Going
The Taniwha have made four changes to their starting side with lock Sam Caird and wing Jone Macilai coming into the starting side.
There have also been two positional changes with Pisi Leilua moving from the right to the left wing to cater for Macilai, while Scott Gregory replaces Matthew Wright at fullback.
Southland: 1-Joseph Walsh, 2-Greg Pleasants-Tate, 3-Christopher Apoua, 4-Michael McKee, 5-Manaaki Selby-Rickit, 6-Charles Alaimalo, 7-Mathew James, 8-Tony Lamborn (c), 9-Logan Crowley, 10-Scott Eade, 11-Penikolo Latu, 12-Raymond Nu’u, 13-Isaac Te Tamaki, 14-Amanaki Nicole, 15-Joshua Moorby
Reserves: 16-Sabastian Siataga, 17-Ethan De Groot, 18-Siate Tokolahi, 19-Raymond Tatafu, 20-Glenn Preston, 21-Raniera Takarangi, 22-Gregory Dyer, 23-Rory van Vugt
Coach Dale MacLeod has continued with his ploy to rotate and rest players with multiple changes to the starting side.
There is a near-new tight-five with Joseph Walsh Greg Pleasants-Tate, Christopher Apoua andMichael McKee coming into the starting side, while Charles Alaimalo switches from No. 8 to blindside flanker, allowing captain Toby Lamborn to go at the back of the scrum with Mathew James at openside.
There is also a host of changes in the backs with Logan Crowley, Scott Eade, Penikolo Latu and Amanaki Nicole coming into the starting side, while Isaac Te Tamaki shifts from the wing to centre.
