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New Zealand provincial champions Tasman will begin their two-match American tour in Houston on Saturday. The Mako feature only a handful of players who took part in the victorious Mitre 10 Cup campaign, but should prove formidable adversaries for the shorthanded SaberCats.
With some planned arrivals still waiting on visas, the hosts have managed to name a squad of 24 but only a dozen are forwards. Only two front row replacements are available, requiring either a long night for one of the trio or some creative rotation. Meanwhile the Mako have 11 subs with cover across the board.
Valdemar Lee-Lo is named at loosehead prop, making his return to professional rugby after a long injury-enforced hiatus. Starting hooker Gabe Romero and reserve lock Charlie Hewitt both return having been sidelined having missed the entirety of the 2019 season.
The wide-open No8 position is occupied by Uruguay veteran Diego Magno, who is also named vice-captain. Kyle Breytenbach starts at lock with new arrival Mathew Faoagali waiting his turn on the bench.
New scrumhalf De Wet Roos is handed the skipper’s armband on debut, one of three newcomers in the backline. Former Dragons midfielder Tiaan Loots starts at inside center with Argentine utility Matías Freyre on the left wing. A notable absentee is winger Malacchi Esdale, currently with the USA Falcons Sevens side in Fiji.
Tasman have named five forwards with Mitre 10 experience up front including former Waikato second row Antonio Shalfoon. Blindside flanker Jacob Norris captains the side with national age-grade trialists Kershawl Sykes-Martin and Isaiah Miller looking to impress the management.
Highly-rated Australian schoolboy Campbell Morgan-Parata is trusted with the No10 shirt in a young backline. New Zealand u20 speedster Jamie Spowart is named at fullback, the only player in the backline with senior Tasman experience.
Kickoff is set for 7pm local time (Central), 5pm Pacific, 8pm Eastern. A live stream will be available on the SaberCats Facebook page.
HOUSTON SABERCATS
1 Valdemar Lee-Lo, 2 Gabe Romero, 3 Charlie Connolly, 4 Kyle Breytenbach, 5 Victor Comptat, 6 Luke Beauchamp, 7 Cecil Garber, 8 Diego Magno, 9 De Wet Roos (capt.), 10 Sam Windsor, 11 Matías Freyre, 12 Tiaan Loots, 13 Max Tacket, 14 Zach Pangelinan, 15 Osea Kolinisau
Replacements: 16 Tim Cadwallader, 17 Boyd Wiggins, 18 Charlie Hewitt, 19 Mathew Faoagali, 20 Tim Stanfill, 21 Jake Christmann, 22 Kieran Farmer, 23 Zachary Short, 24 Zack Godfrey
TASMAN MAKO
1 Kershawl Sykes-Martin, 2 Max Fraine, 3 Sam Matenga, 4 Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta, 5 Antonio Shalfoon, 6 Jacob Norris (capt.), 7 Braden Stewart, 8 Isaiah Miller, 9 Louie Chapman, 10 Campbell Morgan-Parata, 11 Rahiri Witehira, 12 Michael Stringer, 13 Caleb Coventry, 14 Nick Foxley, 15 Jamie Spowart
Replacements: 16 Sam Lane, 17 Quinn Harrison-Jones, 18 Matt Graham-Williams, 19 Hopoate Taufa, 20 Max Hicks, 21 Connor Higgins, 22 Tim Sail, 23 Mitchell Barry, 24 Sam Briggs, 25 Jan Lammers, 26 Saul Lewis, 27 Taine Robinson
Date: Saturday, January 18
Venue: AVEVA Stadium, Houston
Kickoff: 19:00 local (17:00 Pacific, 20:00 Eastern)
Broadcasts: Facebook
