Cantabrians named to face Wellington

The Cantabrians will take on Wellington this Friday in their third and final game. They have been beaten by Tasman in Kaikoura and Southland in Oamaru, but this week will have the advantage of playing at home and of having a number of players from the Crusaders available for selection.

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The Cantabrians squad was formed by Canterbury Head Coach Tabai Matson to help select his final Canterbury ITM Cup squad. Matson says the Cantabrians pre-season games have been an opportunity for players to put forward their case for selection in the ITM Cup squad, however it is also very much about giving players some game time before the season officially kicks off.

“That is particularly the focus with this week’s game against Wellington because with a number of our players having been on leave after the Super Rugby season, this is the first and only opportunity we’ll have to pull some of these players together on the field,” Matson said.

Twelve of the players in the 23 named for Friday’s game were involved in the Crusaders squad and have joined the Cantabrians for the first time this week.

Heavy rain this week has caused the game to be moved from Rugby Park to Linfield Park. Kick-off is at 2pm.

1. Joe Moody
2. Ben Funnell
3. Nepo Laulala
4. Luke Katene
5. Dom Bird
6. Luke Whitelock
7. Jed Brown
8. Nasi Manu
9. Willi Heinz (captain)
10. Tyler Bleyendaal
11. Patrick Osbourne
12. Tom Taylor
13. Robbie Fruean
14. Telusa Veainu
15. Sean Maitland

Reserves

16. Corey Flynn
17. Paea Fa-anunu
18. Joel Everson
19. James Lentjes
20. Andy Ellis
21. Jordan Hyland
22. Adam Whitelock
23. Wyatt Crockett