Same again for Auckland

AUCKLAND HAS named an unchanged team for its clash against Bay of Plenty in Rotorua on Friday night.

Eighteen-year-old Joe Edwards has been included on the bench with the hope he will be cleared to play by the New Zealand Rugby Union after having already played his allotted two games as an under-age player.

The only alteration to the match 22 sees back-up first five Tony Fenner replace Simon Hickey in the reserves.

Auckland has won three of its first four games this season, while Bay of Plenty is at the bottom of the Premiership table after back-to-back losses to Counties Manukau and Waikato.

The two teams will contest the John Drake Boot, which is currently held by Auckland.

It honours the memory of former All Blacks prop John Drake, who passed away suddenly at the age of 49 in 2008.

Auckland: Charles Piutau, Ben Lam, Malakai Fekitoa, Hadleigh Parkes, George Moala, Gareth Anscombe, Alby Mathewson, Peter Saili, Sean Polwart, Steven Luatua, Liaki Moli, Sean Brookman, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Tom McCartney, Pauliasi Manu
Reserves: Nathan Vella, Angus Ta’avao, Nathan Hughes, Joe Edwards, Auvasa Faleali’i, Tony Fenner, Dave Thomas