50th match for Mitchell Crosswell in Taranaki colours

Mitchell Crosswell, seen here scoring a try against Auckland, will play his 50th match for Taranaki on Saturday night. Photo: Rob Tucker

MEDIA RELEASE
5 October 2018

Co-captain Mitchell Crosswell will play in his 50th match for the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls when they face Canterbury on Saturday night in the Mitre10 Cup.

Crosswell, who plays his club rugby in Taranaki for Tukapa, started his NPC career for Manawatu and played in 11 competition matches and a pre-season game between 2008-2011. His father Peter, uncle Paul and brother Nick also represented Manawatu.

He shifted to Tokyo after the 2011 season to play for the Hino Red Dolphins on a one-year deal.

The 29-year-old then moved to Taranaki in 2013 and was part of the championship winning team of 2014.

Outside of provincial rugby, Crosswell represented the Māori All Blacks through two campaigns and the Chiefs in Super Rugby.   

Born and bred in Feilding, Crosswell was a protégé of Rick Francis of Fielding Agricultural High School fame, who impressed on his charges to always ‘BTB – better than before’. In addition to Mitchell and Nick, Fielding AHS also produced the Whitelocks, Aaron Smith and another Taranaki veteran, Chris Walker.

Crosswell said it was an honour to be able to notch up 50 matches for Taranaki.

“I feel both lucky and grateful for the opportunity to bring up 50 games for this team and do it alongside a lot of my mates.

“It’s been an awesome journey filled with massive highs and lows. It has been both physically and mentally demanding, but I’ve learnt plenty and am still really enjoying it” he said.

Head coach Willie Rickards said Crosswell’s leadership is something all players can look up to.

“He has a lot of respect among the rugby community, not just in Taranaki, but around the country with his Super Rugby and Maori All Black experience. Mitchell is very passionate about his rugby and that shows with his performances every game he plays. We congratulate Mitchell on his milestone”.

In Crosswell’s 50th match, Rickards has made four starting changes to the side that lost to North Harbour 55-26 in New Plymouth.

There has been a reshuffle in the loose forward trio as Pita Sowakula drops out of the side due to a shoulder injury and is replaced by Jesse Parete. Parete will start at number 8, Crosswell will move to blindside flanker and Tom Florence will remain on the openside.

Warwick Lahmert will gain his first start for Taranaki after Brendan Leonard injured his Achilles last week. Xavier Roe will remain on the bench as the replacement halfback.

Stephen Perofeta re-injured his shoulder against North Harbour and as a result, Ciarhan Matoe will start at first five-eighth. Given the injuries that has hit the squad this season, this is the fourth halfback-first five-eighth combination this season.

Manasa Mataele injured his ankle in the first half last week and Beaudein Waaka moves from fullback to the wing in his absence.

The midfield will remain strong with Seta Tamanivalu and Teihorangi Walden set to line up alongside each other once more.

Brayton Northcott-Hill moves off the bench to fullback.

On the reserve bench, Scott Mellow is the replacement hooker and Donald Maka will cover the loose forwards, if required. After having an impressive season for the AICA Taranaki Development side, Jayson Potroz returns for the first time since playing in the two Ranfurly Shield matches against Poverty Bay and Wanganui. Latu Vaeno will return to the bench.

Rickards said Canterbury are one of the form teams in the competition but is looking to relay the same intensity and energy from training into the game.  

“Canterbury are the heavyweights of New Zealand domestic rugby. We have prepared well this week and we are looking forward to the challenge.”    

Taranaki has suffered a number of injuries this season and as a result, Rickards has used 39 players during the 2018 Mitre10 Cup season.

Yarrows Taranaki Bulls to play Canterbury, Saturday, 7:35pm;

  1. Chris Gawler
  2. Ricky Riccitelli
  3. Reuben O’Neill
  4. Jarrad Hoeata
  5. Leighton Price
  6. Mitchell Crosswell (cc) – 50th match for Taranaki
  7. Tom Florence
  8. Jesse Parete
  9. Warwick Lahmert
  10. Ciarhan Matoe
  11. Beaudein Waaka
  12. Teihorangi Walden (cc)
  13. Seta Tamanivalu
  14. Regan Ware
  15. Brayton Northcott-Hill

Reserves:

  1. Scott Mellow
  2. Jared Proffit
  3. Kyle Stewart
  4. Tupou Va’ai
  5. Donald Maka
  6. Xavier Roe
  7. Jayson Potroz
  8. Latu Vaeno

Unavailable due to All Black duties: Beauden Barrett, Scott Barrett, Jordie Barrett, Waisake Nahalo, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Angus Ta'avao.

Not available for this game: Kane Thompson (hamstring), Lachlan Boshier (shoulder), Pita Sowakula (shoulder), Toa Halafihi (shoulder), Daniel Waite (shoulder), Logan Crowley (concussion), Brendan Leonard (achilles), Stephen Perofeta (shoulder), Manasa Mataele (ankle).

Season ending injuries: Bradley Slater (back), Mitchell Graham (leg), Fin Hoeata (shoulder), Mitchell Brown (knee), Sean Wainui (shoulder), Kiniviliame Naholo (ankle), Marty McKenzie (hip).

Key Facts:

  • Canterbury and Taranaki first played in 1892. Canterbury has won 47 matches against Taranaki’s 17. There have been two draws
  • The last time these two sides met, Taranaki took the Ranfurly Shield off Canterbury in a 55-43 thriller in Christchurch
  • In that match, it was the largest ever come back in Ranfurly Shield history as Taranaki were down 31-7 at one point in the first half
  • The win was also Taranaki’s biggest score against Canterbury
  • Canterbury’s last win was in 2016 where the red and blacks won 39-34 in New Plymouth
  • Canterbury’s largest score was 51 in Christchurch in the 2012 NPC semi-final
  • Canterbury’s biggest points differential was 34 when New Plymouth in 2000 where they won 43-9
  • Taranaki has won the last two out of three matches in Christchurch

 

-ENDS-

For more information, please contact;

Will Johnston

TRFU Media Manager

0273483831

will@trfu.co.nz


Article added: Friday 05 October 2018

 

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