Coach Mark Rutene has named Thames Valley’s Brett Ranga to captain the side in their first of three fixtures this month.
The New Zealand Heartland XV team is;
|
1 |
Carl Carmichael |
King Country |
|
2 |
Anthony Ellis |
Buller |
|
3 |
Meli Kolinisau |
North Otago |
|
4 |
Campbell Hart |
Wanganui |
|
5 |
Sam Liebezeit |
West Coast |
|
6 |
Brett Ranga (c) |
Thames Valley |
|
7 |
Nick Strachan |
South Canterbury |
|
8 |
Chulainn Mabbett-Sowerby |
King Country |
|
9 |
Robbie Smith |
North Otago |
|
10 |
Tim Priest |
Wairarapa Bush |
|
11 |
Willie Paia’aua |
Horowhenua Kapiti |
|
12 |
Sione Holani |
West Coast |
|
13 |
Jaxon Tagavaitau |
Horowhenua Kapiti |
|
14 |
Alex Thrupp |
King Country |
|
15 |
Patrick Pati |
North Otago |
|
16 |
Nathan Kendrick |
Horowhenua Kapiti |
|
17 |
Ralph Darling |
North Otago |
|
18 |
Tyler Kearns |
West Coast |
|
19 |
Lachie McFadzean |
Wairarapa Bush |
|
20 |
Hone Haerewa |
East Coast |
|
21 |
Willie Wright |
South Canterbury |
|
22 |
Miles Medlicott |
South Canterbury |
|
23 |
Himiona Henare |
Horowhenua Kapiti |
Injuries from the Heartland Championship Finals have forced some late changes to the forward pack but Rutene said the team has impressed since coming together on Tuesday.
“We have 14 players back from the team that came together in July so that’s made it easier for us, we feel like we are pretty well prepared,” said Rutene.
The mid-year fixture against a Rugby World Cup-bound Samoa will give Heartland players confidence when facing the New Zealand Marist team that features Super Rugby and Mitre 10 Cup players.
“That match was a great occasion for us and the boys really stepped up. Those players will bring some confidence and we expect to see everybody lift in this environment again.”
Rutene said with four training's under their belt he is confident in a strong team performance.
“We have reasonable size up front so should be able to win ball and then we’ve got the backline to make use of it."
The fixture sees the McRae Cup up for grabs which the New Zealand Heartland XV have had a firm grip on in recent years. After Saturday’s match, the team travel to Fiji for two matches against the Vanua XV.
New Zealand Heartland XV match schedule
Saturday 2 November, kick off 2pm
New Zealand Heartland XV v New Zealand Marist
Boyd Park, Te Aroha
Wednesday 6 November, kick off 7pm
New Zealand Heartland XV v Vanua Fiji
Churchill Park, Lautoka, Fiji
Saturday 9 November, kick off 3pm
NZ Heartland XV v Vanua Fiji
Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka, Fiji
Click here to see the New Zealand Marist squad.