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Luke Jacobson finally has opportunity to captain Waikato side bolstered by Anton Lienert-Brown and Damian McKenzie

Luke Jacobson. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Running out in a Mitre 10 Cup for Waikato while wearing the captain’s armband has been a long time coming for Luke Jacobson.

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The 23-year-old loose forward was named season captain of the 2018 squad but injury kept the All Black from taking park. Last year, having returned early from the World Cup in Japan due to concussion, Jacobson also sat out the majority of the provincial competition.

On Saturday in what should be an entertaining encounter with Wellington, Jacobson will captain Waikato while wearing the number 8 jersey. He’ll be joined by his older brother Mitch and experienced stalwart Adam Thomson.

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Up front, Ollie Norris, Samisoni Takei’aho and Sefo Kautai make up a powerful front row. Hamilton Burr and Samipeni Finau, who are equally as comfortable in the loose forwards, will provide plenty of mobility in the locks.

In the backs, former Taranaki representative Xavier Roe will make his Mooloo’s debut, combining with Fletcher Smith in the halves. The exciting Super Rugby midfield combination of Anton Lienert-Brown and Quinn Tupaea will continue to excel at a provincial level.

Patrick Osborne has been named on the left wing and will make his Waikato debut joining Bailyn Sullivan and Damian McKenzie to make up an electrifying outside back trio.

All Blacks Lienert-Brown and McKenzie last featured for Waikato in 2015 and 2016 respectively.

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In the reserves, Steven Misa, returns to Waikato for the first time since 2016 and has a chance to add to his eleven Waikato caps.

Rob Cobb, who earned minutes with the Chiefs late in the Super Rugby Aotearoa season, will wear the number 17 jersey and Highlander Josh Iosefa-Scott will also provide prop cover. The Hautapu duo of James Thompson and Simon Parker will cover the locks and loose forwards respectively and Rivez Reihana will likely slot in at first five or fullback late in the piece.

Finally, Otorohanga halfback, Cortez Ratima, and Fraser Tech utility back, Liam Coombes-Fabling will both have a chance to debut for the province via the bench.

Waikato: Damian McKenzie, Bailyn Sullivan, Quinn Tupaea, Anton Lienert-Brown, Patrick Osborne, Fletcher Smith, Xavier Roe, Luke Jacobson (c), Mitch Jacobson, Adam Thomson, Samipeni Finau, Hamilton Burr, Sefo Kautai, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Ollie Norris. Reserves: Steven Misa, Robb Cobb, Josh Iosefa-Scott, James Thompson, Simon Parker, Cortez Ratima, Rivez Reihana, Liam Coombes-Fabling.

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– with Waikato Rugby

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Bull Shark 1 hour ago
Rassie Erasmus' Boks selection policy is becoming bizarre

To be fair, the only thing that drives engagement on this site is over the top critiques of Southern Hemisphere teams.


Or articles about people on podcasts criticizing southern hemisphere teams.


Articles regarding the Northern Hemisphere tend to be more positive than critical. I guess to also rile up kiwis and Saffers who seem to be the majority of followers in the comments section. There seems to be a whole department dedicated to Ireland’s world ranking news.


Despite being dialled into the Northern edition - I know sweet fokall about what’s going on in France.


And even less than fokall about what’s cutting in Japan - which has a fast growing, increasingly premium League competition emerging.


And let’s not talk about the pacific. Do they even play rugby Down there.


Oh and the Americas. I’ve read more articles about a young, stargazing Welshman’s foray into NFL than I have anything related to either the north and south continents of the Americas.


I will give credit that the women’s game is getting decent airtime. But for the rest and the above; it’s just pathetic coming from a World Rugby website.


Just consider the innovation emerging in Japan with the pedigree of coaches over there.


There’s so much good we could be reading.


Instead it’s unimaginative “critical for the sake of feigning controversial”. Which is lazy, because in order to pull that off all you need to be really good at is:


1. Being a doos;

2. Having an opinion.


No prior experience needed.


Which is not journalism. That’s like all or most of us in the comments section. People like Finn (who I believe is a RP contributor).


Anyway. Hopefully it will get better. The game is growing and the interest in the game is growing. Maybe it will attract more qualified journalists over time.

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