Vodafone Warrior Jerome Ropati (pictured) has beeen ruled out of making a return from a hamstring injury with the Vulcans in the New South Wales Cup today. Photo: Photosport.
Auckland Vulcans coach Willie Swann has been forced to reshuffle his side for todays New South Wales Cup meeting with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Belmore Sports Ground in Sydney (3.00pm kick-off local time; 5.00pm kick-off NZT).
Vodafone Warriors centre Jerome Ropati was originally named to make his return from one week off with a hamstring strain.
He was selected at fullback, where he finished his restricted 2012 NRL campaign, but hasnt yet fully recovered from the injury.
It means Dominique Peyroux, chosen to start in the second row, now moves to the centres, Ngani Laumape goes onto the wing and Tangi Ropati, originally listed to start on the wing, is now the starting fullback.
Peyrouxs move and a one-game suspension for regular second rower John Palavi results in a changed back row combination with Murray Iti and Agnatius Paasi in the second row and Vodafone Warrior Sebastine Ikahihifo at loose forward.
The Vulcans are smarting from back-to-back defeats by top of the table Cronulla and Wyong, the latter boasting just one win before its success in Wellington last week.
With three wins, a draw and five losses, the Vulcans have slipped one point outside the top eight in ninth after holding fifth spot two weeks ago.
The Bulldogs, usually among the competitions pacesetters, have slipped right away so far this season. Theyre running last with only one win and eight losses in their nine games played so far but boast quality players at standoff in Kris Keating and hooker Joel Romelo.
AUCKLAND VULCANS v CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney
3.00pm, Saturday, May 18
Referee: Michael Laverty
AUCKLAND VULCANS
2TANGI ROPATI
4NGANI LAUMAPE
3KONRAD HURRELL
12DOMINIQUE PEYROUX
5ATELEA NAFETALAI
6STEVE WAETFORD
7HARRY SIEJKA
8CHARLIE GUBB
9ALEHANA MARA
10DANIEL PALAVI
11MURRAY ITI
16AGNATIUS PAASI
13SEBASTINE IKAHIHIFO
Interchange:
14SILIVA HAVILI
15NATHANIEL PETERU
17PATRICK SIPLEY
19HERMAN RETZLAFF
20SIONE FEAO
HEAD COACH: WILLIE SWANN
Auckland Vulcans coach Willie Swann has been forced to reshuffle his side for todays New South Wales Cup meeting with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Belmore Sports Ground in Sydney (3.00pm kick-off local time; 5.00pm kick-off NZT).
Vodafone Warriors centre Jerome Ropati was originally named to make his return from one week off with a hamstring strain.
He was selected at fullback, where he finished his restricted 2012 NRL campaign, but hasnt yet fully recovered from the injury.
It means Dominique Peyroux, chosen to start in the second row, now moves to the centres, Ngani Laumape goes onto the wing and Tangi Ropati, originally listed to start on the wing, is now the starting fullback.
Peyrouxs move and a one-game suspension for regular second rower John Palavi results in a changed back row combination with Murray Iti and Agnatius Paasi in the second row and Vodafone Warrior Sebastine Ikahihifo at loose forward.
The Vulcans are smarting from back-to-back defeats by top of the table Cronulla and Wyong, the latter boasting just one win before its success in Wellington last week.
With three wins, a draw and five losses, the Vulcans have slipped one point outside the top eight in ninth after holding fifth spot two weeks ago.
The Bulldogs, usually among the competitions pacesetters, have slipped right away so far this season. Theyre running last with only one win and eight losses in their nine games played so far but boast quality players at standoff in Kris Keating and hooker Joel Romelo.
AUCKLAND VULCANS v CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Belmore Sports Ground, Sydney
3.00pm, Saturday, May 18
Referee: Michael Laverty
AUCKLAND VULCANS
2TANGI ROPATI
4NGANI LAUMAPE
3KONRAD HURRELL
12DOMINIQUE PEYROUX
5ATELEA NAFETALAI
6STEVE WAETFORD
7HARRY SIEJKA
8CHARLIE GUBB
9ALEHANA MARA
10DANIEL PALAVI
11MURRAY ITI
16AGNATIUS PAASI
13SEBASTINE IKAHIHIFO
Interchange:
14SILIVA HAVILI
15NATHANIEL PETERU
17PATRICK SIPLEY
19HERMAN RETZLAFF
20SIONE FEAO
HEAD COACH: WILLIE SWANN
