QBE Insurance North Harbour team to play Counties Manukau
Growers Stadium, Pukekohe, Wednesday, August 17, 6.05pm
Lock James King returns to the starting lineup for Harbour after missing the Southland game through injury but tighthead prop Ben Afeaki is unavailable due to a minor knee problem and is replaced by Taione Vea. Irwin Finau switches to blindside flanker while 18-year-old Pita Ahki will start at second-five. Codey Rei replaces Willie Walker in the No 15 jersey with Walker on the bench. Massey prop Adrian Smith, who played one game for Harbour in 2009, has been called into the reserves.
QBE Insurance North Harbour:
1 James Afoa – Northcote
2 James Parsons - Takapuna
3 Taione Vea – Western Pioneers
4 James King – North Shore
5 Filo Paulo - Mahurangi
6 Irwin Finau – East Coast Bays
7 Solomon King – Takapuna
8 Mat Luamanu – North Shore
9 Chris Smylie – Massey (capt)
10 Ben Botica – North Shore
11 David Raikuna – Western Pioneers
12 Pita Ahki - Massey
13 Rudi Wulf - Marist
14 Ken Pisi – Massey
15 Codey Rei – East Coast Bays
Reserves:
16 Manu Leiataua – Mahurangi (hooker)
17 Alex Woonton – North Shore (prop)
18 Brent Wilson – Takapuna
19 Sam Hayes-Stevenson – Takapuna
20 Luke Hamilton – North Shore
21 Willie Walker – North Shore
22 Nafi Tuitavake – Massey
23 Adrian Smith - Massey (prop) *
* an extra front row forward is allowed in the reserves for the 2011 ITM Cup.