Rugby: Daniel Rona returns for Auckland match

Daniel Rona will make his first appearance of the NPC season when Taranaki host Auckland at Stadium Taranaki on Thursday night.

The Clifton and All Blacks XV midfielder has been named at second-five after an extended layoff with a finger injury.

Rona has not played since May 30, when he featured for the Chiefs in their 59-34 Super Rugby Pacific win over the Blues in Hamilton, meaning Thursday night’s match will be his first competitive outing in just over three months.

His return is one of several changes made by head coach Jarrad Hoeata following Taranaki’s 40-26 win over Canterbury on Saturday afternoon.

That victory was a significant response after losses to Northland and Bay of Plenty, with Taranaki producing a more complete performance against Canterbury and showing better control at set piece while continuing to find more penetration through the backs.

Rona comes into the midfield in place of Seta Tamanivalu, who moves to the reserves.

There are also enforced changes at halfback and tighthead prop.

Quintony Ngatai earns his first start at halfback after being called into action early against Canterbury when Logan Crowley suffered an ankle injury.

Marika Parker starts at tighthead prop after Keightley Watson was ruled out with concussion.

Scott Jury also comes into the starting side, with Bradley Tocker unavailable after suffering concussion, while Arese Poliko has also been ruled out for the same reason.

The bench includes a number of notable changes.

Dane Johnston returns to provide tighthead prop cover, Jayden Sa is back after recovering from the concussion he suffered against Northland, while United halfback Tai Mildon is in line to make his Taranaki Bulls debut.

Taranaki still have a lengthy unavailable list.

Reuben O’Neill is expected to be sidelined for another week with a neck injury, while Chris Vunipola is out for one to two weeks with a shoulder injury.

Fiti Sa, Adam Lennox and Scott Barrett are all expected to miss another two to three weeks, while Olly Lawson remains sidelined for three to four weeks with the shoulder injury he suffered earlier in the campaign.

Crowley’s ankle injury remains to be assessed, while return dates for Poliko, Tocker and Watson are also yet to be confirmed.

Thursday night’s match kicks off at 7.10pm at Stadium Taranaki.

Taranaki: Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens, Vereniki Tikoisolomone, Meihana Grindlay, Daniel Rona, Kini Naholo, Sam Clarke, Quintony Ngatai, Kaylum Boshier, Michael Loft, Iosefa Namosimalua, Jesse Parete, Scott Jury, Marika Parker, JJ Pokai, Jared Proffit. Reserves: Zach Landon-Lane, Perry Lawrence, Dane Johnston, Jayden Sa, Sage Walters-Hansen, Tai Mildon, Jamie Viljoen, Seta Tamanivalu.

Elsewhere, the Taranaki Under 20 side finished its season with a 29-24 win over Auckland on Saturday.

Coached by Teihorangi Walden and featuring several Taranaki Academy players, the side finished its campaign with four wins from five matches.

The Taranaki Development side also remained unbeaten after beating Waikato 31-28 away from home. It will face North Harbour at Tukapa on Saturday afternoon.

The Taranaki Whio were beaten 28-17 by Thames Valley, but will get another chance against the same opposition when the sides meet in the Northern Regions Development final in Thames on Saturday.