Culhane mixes up Stags backline for Turbos

Paku on wing for Turbos

BY NATHAN BURDON

Stags co-coach Simon Culhane has sprung some surprises with the backline named to play the season opener against Manawatu on Saturday.

While the forward pack largely picks itself, Culhane has opted to shake things up in the backs.

Having experimented with James Wilson at second five-eighth against Wanganui, Culhane has moved the Blues utility back into the No10 jersey, with Robbie Robinson starting at fullback for the first time since round four last season.

Glen Horton has been moved from his usual position at the back to the right wing, while Mark Wells has retained his wing assignment after scoring three tries in the past two games.

Matt Saunders, who missed the entire preseason with a knee injury, has been named at second five-eighth after Wilson and Seminar Manu were trialled during the early Ranfurly Shield challenges.

Culhane said his selections were based on having his best players on the park.

"I've always been a fan of having your premier players on the field. Robbie's obviously one of them and he's equally adept at first five-eight or fullback. Putting him back at fullback allows another class player like James to be on the field."

Culhane said Horton was unlucky to find himself playing out of position.

Despite missing out on the Stags 2010 squad this week, Star halfback Nick Annear has been included on the bench ahead of squad member Sonny Rangitoheriri after forcing his way into the selection mix.

"Nick's put pressure on right through the club season ... he's getting an opportunity. It's pretty exciting for him, he came down here thinking he was probably a couple of years away from being involved in our side ... and he's thoroughly justified his selection."

Young props Micheal Peterson and Nic Barrett have been bracketed together on the bench.

Meanwhile, Manawatu's new signing Shannon Paku will line up on the right wing.

Paku, who's linked with Manawatu after returning from two seasons in France, opens the new provincial season on the right wing for his new province as they kick off against the Ranfurly Shield holders in the 2.35pm clash in Palmerston North.

Paku previously played for Wellington before heading to the Montauban club in France, and was a long-serving Hurricanes player at Super 14 level.

But the talented 29-year-old utility back has links to the Manawatu region from his younger days and was only too happy to move north from his Wellington base once it became clear the Lions couldn’t fit him into their already established squad.

There is also a debut at centre for former home-town boy Hadleigh Parkes who is on loan to the Turbos from Canterbury where he's now based.

Up front Mitchell Crosswell gets a chance to add to the two caps he earned in 2008 when he lines up at No 8 in an otherwise experienced pack.

There will also be Turbos debuts off the bench for James Oliver and Karl Bryson if they're used.

MANAWATU: 15 Craig Clare, 14 Shannon Paku, 13 Hadleigh Parkes, 12 Francis Bryant, 11 Lote Raikabula, 10 Isaac Thompson, 9 Aaron Smith; 8 Mitchell Crosswell, 7 Doug Tietjens, 6 Nick Crosswell, 5 Reece Robinson, 4 Michael Fitzgerald, 3 Ma'afu Fia, 2 Sean O'Connor, 1 Grant Polson. Reserves: 16 Rob Foreman, 17 Shane Kingsland, 18 Hamish Gosling, 19 James Oliver, 20 Karl Bryson, 21 Tomasi Cama, 22 Casey Stone.

SOUTHLAND:  Robbie Robinson, Glen Horton, Kendrick Lynn, Matt Saunders, Mark Wells, James Wilson, Scott Cowan, Elliot Dixon, Tim Boys, John Hardie, Joe Tuineau, Josh Bekhuis, Chris King, Jason Rutledge, Jamie Mackintosh (captain). Reserves; Brayden Mitchell, Nic Barrett/Micheal Peterson, Dion Bates, Kane Thompson, Nick Annear, Pehi Te Whare, Tony Koonwaiyou.

- © Fairfax NZ News