Dizzy
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All Blacks Owen Franks and Brad Thorn provide some real horsepower to the Canterbury engine room for their first Ranfurly Shield defence of the season against Counties Manukau on Saturday.
The international duo are back for a one-off provincial outing before reassembling with the All Blacks for their tour north next week, but Canterbury coach Rob Penney has had no hesitation in calling them up for the 5.30pm clash against Tana Umaga and his Steelers.
Their availability is timely, to say the least. Tighthead prop Franks replaces Peter Borlase, who has a shoulder injury, and lock Thorn comes in for Luke Romano, who injured a knee in the 26-16 shield victory over Southland in Invercargill last weekend.
Franks has played one game for Canterbury this season -- the 28-9 victory over Bay of Plenty on September 3 - but it will be Thorn's first match for the Red and Blacks in 2010.
In the other change from last week's starting lineup, All Black Sam Whitelock, who played at blindside flanker against Southland, is unavailable and replaced by Ash Parker.
The backline is unchanged from last weekend, which means Sonny Bill Williams will get his much-anticipated matchup at No 12 against his mentor, Umaga.
Williams is expected to be named in the All Black touring squad on Sunday but will be eager to sign off on that with a strong performance against the man who helped persauade him to return to New Zealand.
Several Canterbury players will tick off milestones in the shield defence. Prop Wyatt Crockett will receive his second blazer for 62 matches, wing Telusa Veainu will earn his first blazer (12th game) and lock Isaac Ross will be making his 50th appearance for the union.
The 19-year-old Veainu has played every game for Canterbury this season. He has scored six tries, including the opener against Southland last weekend.
The match will be Counties Manukau's second shield challenge of the season after they gave Southland a run for their money in round three.
Penney said he was expecting a stiff test from the talented Steelers outfit.
"Counties have a lot of firepower in their backs and they've proven to be very effective broken-field runners this season. Our defence will have to be top-drawer, just as it was against Southland."
Canterbury wing Tu Umaga-Marshall will also be pumped for the clash. He is Tana Umaga's nephew and will be desperate to win the family battle.
CANTERBURY: 15 Sean Maitland, 14 Tu Umaga-Marshall, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Telusa Veainu, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Andy Ellis (capt); 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Ash Parker, 5 Isaac Ross, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Steve Fualau, 1 Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: 16 Paul Ngauamo, 17 Andrew Olorenshaw, 18 Rob Verbnnakel, 19 Brendon O'Connor, 20 Willi Heinz, 21 Stephen Brett, 22 Ryan Crotty.
Source: Stuff.co.nz
Should be a great game
The international duo are back for a one-off provincial outing before reassembling with the All Blacks for their tour north next week, but Canterbury coach Rob Penney has had no hesitation in calling them up for the 5.30pm clash against Tana Umaga and his Steelers.
Their availability is timely, to say the least. Tighthead prop Franks replaces Peter Borlase, who has a shoulder injury, and lock Thorn comes in for Luke Romano, who injured a knee in the 26-16 shield victory over Southland in Invercargill last weekend.
Franks has played one game for Canterbury this season -- the 28-9 victory over Bay of Plenty on September 3 - but it will be Thorn's first match for the Red and Blacks in 2010.
In the other change from last week's starting lineup, All Black Sam Whitelock, who played at blindside flanker against Southland, is unavailable and replaced by Ash Parker.
The backline is unchanged from last weekend, which means Sonny Bill Williams will get his much-anticipated matchup at No 12 against his mentor, Umaga.
Williams is expected to be named in the All Black touring squad on Sunday but will be eager to sign off on that with a strong performance against the man who helped persauade him to return to New Zealand.
Several Canterbury players will tick off milestones in the shield defence. Prop Wyatt Crockett will receive his second blazer for 62 matches, wing Telusa Veainu will earn his first blazer (12th game) and lock Isaac Ross will be making his 50th appearance for the union.
The 19-year-old Veainu has played every game for Canterbury this season. He has scored six tries, including the opener against Southland last weekend.
The match will be Counties Manukau's second shield challenge of the season after they gave Southland a run for their money in round three.
Penney said he was expecting a stiff test from the talented Steelers outfit.
"Counties have a lot of firepower in their backs and they've proven to be very effective broken-field runners this season. Our defence will have to be top-drawer, just as it was against Southland."
Canterbury wing Tu Umaga-Marshall will also be pumped for the clash. He is Tana Umaga's nephew and will be desperate to win the family battle.
CANTERBURY: 15 Sean Maitland, 14 Tu Umaga-Marshall, 13 Robbie Fruean, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Telusa Veainu, 10 Colin Slade, 9 Andy Ellis (capt); 8 Nasi Manu, 7 Matt Todd, 6 Ash Parker, 5 Isaac Ross, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Steve Fualau, 1 Wyatt Crockett. Reserves: 16 Paul Ngauamo, 17 Andrew Olorenshaw, 18 Rob Verbnnakel, 19 Brendon O'Connor, 20 Willi Heinz, 21 Stephen Brett, 22 Ryan Crotty.
Source: Stuff.co.nz
Should be a great game