Turbos make changes to pack

In an ideal world with a full week between games, the Manawatu Turbos might have retained the starting XV which zonked Wellington last Saturday.

But injuries, illnesses and a five-day gap have mitigated against that as they prepare to face Bay of Plenty at Mt Maunganui tomorrow.

Fortunately, the backline is unchanged, with second five-eighth Frankie Bryant as captain following the knee injury suffered by Grant Polson.

Bryant starts only his third game of the season, and it will be his fourth game as Manawatu captain. The other two were at the end of 2008.

There was collateral damage to the forwards who played themselves to a standstill, the worst to the two flankers, Callum Gibbins and Doug Tietjens. Gibbins took a head knock, and by Sunday concussion had set in and he hasn't trained since.

Tietjens still has a neck strain from an illegal neck roll-cum-cleanout against Wellington, and a decision on his fitness to even be on the bench will be held off until tomorrow.

James Oliver is no stranger to the openside flank, so he will happily wear the No7 jersey, opposing young prodigy Sam Cane.

If Tietjens isn't fit, the openside backup will be provided by Mitchell Crosswell, who returns at No8 tomorrow to allow the in-form Hamish Gosling to slide back to the blindside flank.

The changes don't stop there. Lock Reece Robinson, who wasn't required off the bench on Saturday, comes in fresh for Fraser Stone.

Stone had a superhuman game on Saturday but has had suspected flu for the past few days, so it was decided to put him on the bench tomorrow.

Hooker Rob Foreman also exhausted himself during his full 82 minutes against Wellington, as well as damaging his fingers, so the fresh Sean O'Connor will get only his second start of the ITM Cup campaign.

With all city grounds waterlogged, the Turbos battled to find anywhere to train this week. Yesterday they were allowed on FMG Stadium which, because of the sand drainage work done this year, was totally dry.

Bay of Plenty centre Brett Mather is out with an ankle injury he picked up against Canterbury, while flanker Solomon King and lock Luke Andrews also have injuries.

Manawatu Turbos team to play Bay of Plenty tomorrow: 15 Craig Clare, 14 Shannon Paku, 13 Hadleigh Parkes, 12 Frankie Bryant (captain), 11 Lote Raikabula, 10 Isaac Thompson, 9 Aaron Smith; 8 Mitchell Crosswell, 7 James Oliver, 6 Hamish Gosling, 5 Reece Robinson, 4 Michael FitzGerald, 3 Karl Haitana, 2 Sean O'Connor, 1 Shane Kingsland.

Subs: 16 Sean O'Connor, 17 Donal McNamara, 18 Fraser Stone, 19 Doug Tietjens or Bertus Mulder, 20 Karl Bryson, 21 Asaeli Tikoirotuma, 22 Casey Stone.

Unavailable: Nick Crosswell (knee), Callum Gibbins (concussion), Grant Polson (knee), Ma'afu Fia (ribs), Aaron Cruden (All Blacks), Junior Tomasi Cama (cheekbone).

Bay of Plenty: 15 Toby Arnold, 14 Lelia Masaga or Ben Smith, 13 Cory Aporo, 12 Grant McQuoid, 11 Jason Hona, 10 Mike Delany, 9 Chad Tuoro; 8 Colin Bourke, 7 Sam Cane, 6 Tanerau Latimer, 5 Culum Retallick, 4 Aiden Kuka, 3 Tristan Moran, 2 Daniel Perrin, 1 Joe Savage.

Subs: Simon Chisholm, James McGougan, Luke Katene, Josh Hohneck, Phil Burleigh, Dan Waenga, Ben Smith or Nick McCashin.

- © Fairfax NZ News