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One-cap All Black set for injury return as Hawke's Bay name side to face Canterbury

(Photo by Dianne Manson/Getty Images)

Hawke’s Bay will welcome back one-test All Blacks loose forward Gareth Evans from lengthy spell on the sidelines when the Magpies host Canterbury in Napier on Saturday.

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The 29-year-old hasn’t been sighted since coming off the bench in the Hurricanes’ 39-25 defeat to the Crusaders in round two of Super Rugby Aotearoa in June after sustaining an ankle injury.

However, he has been deemed fit to play by Hawke’s Bay head coach Mark Ozich, and will return to action from the pine, taking the place of Solomone Funaki in the No. 20 jersey.

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Providing good back-up to a strong starting back row consisting of Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, Brendon O’Connor and Devon Flanders, Evans’ comeback is well-timed given the absence of fellow All Black Brad Weber.

The five-test halfback scored a brace of tries in last week’s 31-17 win over Counties Manukau, but was among the 35 players who left the Mitre 10 Cup to join a three-day All Blacks training camp in Whakatane in preparation for the Bledisloe Cup.

Although Hawke’s Bay will be devoid of Weber’s talent and international experience, the Magpies are well covered at halfback, with highly-touted Highlanders youngster Folau Fakatava handed a start, while former Otago No. 9 Connor McLeod comes onto the bench.

The only other change in the starting XV comes at second-five, where Hurricanes young gun Danny Toala swaps in for the benched Ollie Sapsford.

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Sapsford, Evans and McLeod are joined by fellow new face Jacob Devery in the reserves, with the latter replacing former New Zealand U20 captain Kianu Kereru-Symes as back-up to starting hooker and captain Ash Dixon.

Hawke’s Bay side to play Canterbury:

1. Pouri Rakete-Stones, 2. Ash Dixon (c), 3. Joe Apikotoa, 4. Geoff Cridge, 5. Tom Parsons, 6. Marino Mikaele-Tu’u, 7. Brendon O’Connor, 8. Devon Flanders, 9. Folau Fakatava, 10. Lincoln McClutchie, 11. Jonah Lowe, 12. Danny Toala, 13. Stacey Ili, 14. Lolagi Visinia, 15. Kurt Baker.

Reserves: 16. Jacob Devery, 17. Jason Long, 18. Joel Hintz, 19. Isaia Walker-Leawere, 20. Gareth Evans, 21. Connor McLeod, 22. Caleb Makene, 23. Ollie Sapsford.

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S
SK 2 hours ago
What is the future of rugby in 2025?

Set pieces are important and the way teams use them is a great indication of how they play the game. No team is showcasing their revolution more than the Springboks. This year they have mauled less and primarily in the attacking third. Otherwise they have tended to set like they are going to maul and then play around the corner or shove the ball out the back. They arent also hitting the crash ball carrier constantly but instead they are choosing to use their width or a big carrying forward in wider areas. While their maul is varied the scrum is still a blunt instrument winning penalties before the backs have a go. Some teams have chosen to blunt their set piece game for more control. The All Blacks are kicking more penalties and are using their powerful scrum as an attacking tool choosing that set piece as an attacking weapon. Their willingness to maul more and in different positions is also becoming more prominent. The French continue to play conservative rugby off the set piece using their big bruisers frequently. The set piece is used differently by different teams. Different teams play different ways and can be successful regardless. They can win games with little territory and possession or smash teams with plenty of both. The game of rugby is for all types and sizes and thats true in the modern era. I hope that administrators keep it that way and dont go further towards a Rugby League style situation. Some administrators are of the opinion that rugby is too slow and needs to be sped up. Why not rather empower teams to choose how they want to play and create a framework that favours neither size nor agility. That favours neither slow tempo play or rock n roll rugby. Create a game that favour both and challenge teams to execute their plans. If World Rugby can create a game like that then it will be the ultimate winner.

35 Go to comments
J
JW 7 hours ago
'Let's not sugarcoat it': Former All Black's urgent call to protect eligibility rules

Yep, no one knows what will happen. Thing is I think (this is me arguing a point here not a random debate with this one) they're better off trialing it now in a controlled environment than waiting to open it up in a knee jerk style reaction to a crumbling organtization and team. They can always stop it again.


The principle idea is that why would players leave just because the door is ajar?


BBBR decides to go but is not good enough to retain the jersey after doing it. NZ no longer need to do what I suggest by paying him to get back upto speed. That is solely a concept of a body that needs to do what I call pick and stick wth players. NZR can't hold onto everyone so they have to choose their BBBRs and if that player comes back from a sabbatical under par it's a priority to get him upto speed as fast as possible because half of his competition has been let go overseas because they can't hold onto them all. Changing eligibility removes that dilemma, if a BBBR isn't playing well you can be assured that someone else is (well the idea is that you can be more assured than if you only selected from domestic players).


So if someone decides they want to go overseas, they better do it with an org than is going to help improve them, otherwise theyre still basically as ineligible as if they would have been scorning a NZ Super side that would have given them the best chance to be an All Black.

147 Go to comments
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