Mako name side for shield challenge

Several influential and vastly experienced players return to the Tasman Mako starting line-up for Sunday’s Ranfurly Shield challenge in Christchurch.

David Havili is back as fullback and captain, Mitchell Drummond reclaims the number nine jersey while Quinten Strange returns at lock alongside Antonio Shalfoon.

All four played an integral part in the Crusaders’ Super Rugby Pacific triumph earlier this year and will be primed and fully motivated to get one over a Canterbury team stacked with Super Rugby team-mates.

Three other experienced campaigners will also rejoin the fold. Leicester Fainga’anuku has been named in the reserves, after being released from All Black duties, while Ryan Coxon starts at loosehead prop and Sione Havili Talitui returns on the flank.

Canterbury, unbeaten so far this year, come off a comprehensive victory over Southland on Saturday, relieving the Stags of the Log of Wood after a tenure lasting just six days.

Tasman, on the other hand, suffered a narrow home loss to Auckland, albeit with a team missing several key players.

Victory over their “big brother” on Sunday would very quickly resurrect a campaign which is in danger of stalling, and bring the country’s biggest rugby prize back to an area that vividly remembers the heroics of last year’s Shield run.

The team is: 1 – Ryan Coxon, 2 – Tomasi Maka, 3 – Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 4 – Quinten Strange, 5 – Antonio Shalfoon, 6 – Lopeti Faifua, 7- Sione Havili Talitui, 8 – Fletcher Anderson, 9 – Mitchell Drummond, 10 – William Havili, 11 – Macca Springer, 12 – Levi Aumua, 13 – Cooper Roberts, 14 – Kyren Taumoefolau, 15 – David Havili (captain). Reserves: 16 – Josh Te Hira, 17 – Monu Moli, 18 – Sam Matenga, 19 – Hunter Leppien, 20 – Tayne Hemopo, 21 – Jay Renton, 22 – Cooper Grant, 23 – Leicester Fainga’anuku.

The game kicks off at 2.10pm Sunday at Apollo Projects Stadium.