Lions Team Named to Take on Canterbury in Round Two clash

The Wellington Lions have named their side to take on Canterbury in Round Two of the Bunnings Warehouse NPC, with several changes to the starting line-up after last week’s clash against Bay of Plenty. 

The front row sees the return of hooker Asafo Aumua to the starting pack, backed up by Hutt Old Boys Marist’s James O’Reilly.  

Former Wallabies prop Pekahou Cowan lines up at tighthead alongside loosehead Xavier Numia, with PJ Sheck and Solomona Sakalia looking to provide cover from the bench. Sakalia makes a welcome return, last playing for the province in 2012.  

“Solomona has been in the professional game for over ten years. He’s an intelligent and experienced prop and he gets his opportunity back in the Lions to face a strong Canterbury forward pack,” said Forwards Coach, Paul Tito.  

Caleb Delany shifts into blindside this week, with Blues’ loosie Taine Plumtree looking to provide impact off the bench.  

With flanker and captain Du’Plessis Kirifi unavailable for selection due to injury, TJ Perenara captains the side from halfback, with Ories loosie, Sione Halalilo coming into the seven jersey on debut. 

“Sione is a young player who has come through Scots College and through the Wellington Academy. He is a tough and abrasive player and we’re excited to see the impact he can have at this level,” said Tito.  

Peter Umaga-Jensen returns from injury partnering Billy Proctor in the midfield, with 19-year-old Riley Higgins providing cover off the bench after an impressive debut in week one. 

“I think we’ve got a nice balance of youth and experience to go down south. Obviously, we've had some close results against Canterbury in the last few years, going into extra time in 2021 and 2020, so we’re going to need a strong 80-minute performance to get the result we’re after,” said Tito.  

The Lions take on the Canterbury in Round 2 at Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch on Saturday 13 August, 7:05pm. Live on Sky Sport. 

Wellington Lions to take on Canterbury:   

1. Xavier Numia, Oriental-Rongotai 
2. Asafo Aumua, Avalon 
3. Pekahou Cowan , Petone 
4. James Blackwell, Petone 
5. Dominic Bird, Upper Hutt Rams 
6. Caleb Delany, Old Boys University 
7. Sione Halalilo, Oriental-Rongotai 
8. Peter Lakai, Petone 
9. TJ Perenara, Northern United (C) 
10. Jackson Garden-Bachop, Northern United 
11. Pepesana Patafilo, Tawa 
12. Peter Umaga-Jensen, Wainuiomata 
13. Billy Proctor, Marist St Pats 
14. Julian Savea, Oriental-Rongotai
15. Ruben Love, Wainuiomata 

16. James O’Reilly, Hutt Old Boys Marist 
17. Solomona Sakalia, Northern United 
18. PJ Sheck, Tawa 
19. Taine Plumtree, Old Boys University 
20. Keelan Whitman, Marist St Pats 
21. Richard Judd, Paremata-Plimmerton 
22. Riley Higgins, Petone 
23. Connor Garden-Bachop, Northern United 

Unavailable for Selection: Vince Sakaria, Tietie Tuimauga, Connor Collins, Iona Apineru, Aidan Morgan, Du’Plessis Kirifi.