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Sky Live: Wellington v Bay of Plenty

Friday 27 October 2017 08:06, UK

Monty Ioane of Steamers during the Mitre 10 Cup Semi Final match between Bay of Plenty and Otago on October 21
Image: Monty Ioane of Bay of Plenty during the Mitre 10 Cup semi-final match with Otago

Preview and teams ahead of Friday's Mitre 10 Championship final at the Westpac Stadium, live on Sky Sports Action.

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Experienced hooker Leni Apisai is expected to return from injury to start for Wellington in Friday's Mitre 10 Cup Championship final against Bay of Plenty.

Apisai takes over from Asafo Aumua, who is unavailable because of touring commitments with the All Blacks squad.

The 21-year-old will start his 30th match for Wellington in the only personnel change to the squad that beat Northland in the semi-final.

There is one other change to the starting team with lock Will Mangos promoted in place of No 8 Galu Taufale, who drops to the bench.

Mangos elevation sees James Blackwell shift from lock to blindside and captain Brad Shields shift back to No 8.

Wellington advanced to the final via a 49-21 semi-final win over Northland at Westpac Stadium, while Bay of Plenty beat Otago 48-32 in Tauranga.

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Last time the two sides met was in round three of the 2017 regular season in Rotorua where Wellington won the match 31-10, the last of five successive wins over the Steamers dating back to 2012.

Wellington last played in the Championship final in 2015 when they lost by a single point, 26-25, to Hawke's Bay in Napier.

Wes Goosen of Wellington celebrates with Thomas Umaga-Jensen after scoring a try during the Mitre 10 Cup Semi Final
Image: Wes Goosen of Wellington celebrates with Thomas Umaga-Jensen after scoring a try during the Mitre 10 Cup semi-final

Speaking ahead of the final, Wellington captain Brad Shields said: "We've a fresh bunch of guys and a lot of new faces around, so it's our sort of time to change things. We just have to be confident we can put it in all week and pull it out on Friday.

"I think we have been good in patches at taking opportunities but in finals rugby you only get a couple and we need to nail those points scoring opportunities wherever they may be. I think that's huge and just look after our breakdown because Bay of Plenty are going to come firing at that."

Bay of Plenty's last appearance in a provincial final was in 2000 when they beat Nelson Bays to win the old National Provincial Championship second division and earn promotion to the top division.

Wellington: 15 Trent Renata, 14 Julian Savea, 13 Wes Goosen, 12 Thomas Umaga-Jensen, 11 Ben Lam, 10 Jackson Garden-Bachop, 9 Sheridan Rangihuna, 1 Tolu Fahamokioa, 2 Leni Apisai, 3 Alex Fidow, 4 Sam Lousi, 5 Will Mangos, 6 James Blackwell, 7 Mateaki Kafatolu, 8 Brad Shields (c)

Replacements: 16 Sitiveni Paongo, 17 Vince Sakaria, 18 Joe Apikotoa, 19 Galu Taufale, 20 Du'Plessis Kirifi, 21 Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, 22 Regan Verney, 23 Malo Tuitama

Bay of Plenty: 15 Chase Tiatia, 14 Monty Ioane, 13 Lalakai Foketi, 12 Terrence Hepetema, 11 Joe Webber, 10 Mike Delany, 9 Luke Campbell, 1 Aidan Ross, 2 Liam Polwart, 3 Jeff Thwaites, 4, Keepa Mewett, 5 Tom Franklin, 6 Mitchell Karpik , 7 Hugh Blake 8, Tyler Ardron

Replacements: 16 James O'Reilly, 17 Jordan Lay, 18 James Lay, 19 Troy Callander, 20 Jesse Parete, 21 Te Aihe Toma, 22 Matthew Garland, 23 Elijah Nicholas

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