Preview: Air NZ Cup, Part One
The 2008 Air New Zealand Cup season kicks off with a double-header on Thursday when Tasman host Bay of Plenty and Northland take on Waikato.
The 2008 Air New Zealand Cup season kicks off with a double-header on Thursday when Tasman host Bay of Plenty and Northland take on Waikato.
Cash-strapped Tasman and Bay of Plenty are both battling off-field demons as two of several sides struggling to make ends meet, and this year the actual rugby is virtually of secondary importance.
Both they and their opponents will have plenty to play for, with the Makos and the Steamers regarded as contenders for the chop when the New Zealand Rugby Union announces a restructure for next season's competition.
Northland and Waikato can feel more at ease in their Cup opener, knowing that the time spent under the stadium floodlights this year won't be their last.
Tasman v Bay of Plenty
Tasman approach their Air New Zealand Cup opener against Bay of Plenty in Blenheim on Thursday with a degree of confidence after recording pre-season wins over Canterbury and defending champions Auckland.
They beat both sides 31-19. But, in a strange twist of fate, lost 7-30 to last year's cellar dwellers Counties Manukau.
But the Makos will know the win over Ranfurly Shield holders, Auckland, will count for nothing once the competition kicks off this week.
Tasman had plenty of good players against Auckland but, since they used almost 40 players in the match, everyone was fresh.
Most interest will centre on the doings of the senior players, who will have a load to carry this year, but some of the newer names may be the ones that will make a difference this season.
Bay of Plenty – inaugural NPC winners in 1976 – also had a good pre-season, and will enter the first game of the Cup, with a quiet air of confidence after building a three from three-win record. Victories over Manawatu and North Harbour, were followed up with a narrow but solid win over traditional rivals Waikato.
Pre-season form often means little or nothing but both sides at least have satisfactory platforms to build on.
The real significance of Bay of Plenty's win over their Waikato neighbours, was the come-from-behind victory. Down by eighteen points half way through the first spell, the Steamers fought back to grab five tries in the second half and post a 44-40 win.
With a high percentage goal-kicker necessary for success in the Air New Zealand Cup – the Steamers look to be well served in the goal-kicking department, with Mike Delany in good form in the pre-season hit-outs.
Vice-captain Colin Bourke has been in dynamic form from the back of the scrum in the warm-up games. Another to impress is skipper Jamie Nutbrown who looks to be amongst the top echelon of half-backs in the country.
While both sides are looking to open their Air New Zealand Cup season with a win, conditions in Blenheim could be the leveller.
The side that adapts best to the predicted wet and cold conditions on Thursday night is likely to grab the encounter.
Prediction: Although Bay of Plenty have already won twice at Blenheim, this should be a close match played between two evenly-balanced teams. Home ground advantage hasn't helped in the past, but we're backing the Makos this time round. Tasman to win by six points.
Tasman: 15 Blair Cook, 14 Stephen Sasagi, 13 Kade Poki, 12 Andrew Goodman, 11 Afeleki Pelenise, 10 Miah Nikora, 9 Kahn Fotuali'i, 8 Mark Bright, 7 Jack Lam, 6 Jonathon Poff, 5 Alex Ainley, 4 Will Crutchley, 3 Ben Franks, 2 Daniel Perrin, 1 Ben May.
Replacements: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Tristan Moran, 18 Daniel Hyatt, 19 Karl Leary, 20 Lualua Vailoaloa, 21 Mike Pehi, 22 James Marshall.
Bay of Plenty: 15 Zar Lawrence, 14 Lance MacDonald, 13 Paula Asaeli, 12 Nigel Hunt, 11 Jason Hona, 10 Mike Delany, 9 Jamie Nutbrown (c), 8 Colin Bourke, 7 Luke Braid, 6 Solomon King, 5 Culum Retallick, 4 John Moore, 3 James McGougan, 2 John Pareanga, 1 Joe Savage.
Replacements: 16 Dean Elmiger, 17 Arden David-Perrot, 18 Josh Katene, 19 Aidan Kuka, 20 Josh Hall, 21 Kelly Haimona, 22 Toby Arnold.
Date: Thursday, July 31
Venue: Blenheim
Kick-off: 19:05 (07:05 GMT)
Referee: Lyndon Bray
TMO: Chris Pollock
Northland v Waikato
A new-look Northland outfit are poised to launch into the Air New Zealand Cup when they host Waikato at Okara Park – with three players set to make their championship debuts in the starting team and another five waiting for their chance on the bench.
After heading into the pre-season campaign a little anxious, Anscombe is now upbeat about his team after dispatching three opponents in the last three weeks and discovering some unheralded talent to bolster his squad in a brief but effective preparation period.
“If you has asked me a month ago I would have given you a different reply, but right now I feel quite happy with how we are sitting,” Anscombe said.
“There was not much to get excited about three or four weeks ago but it has unfolded quickly since then.
“The strength we have [now] is that we have experience, we have got old hands who can quickly point the younger blokes in the right direction and that is something quite invaluable in the competition this year,” he said.
It is an observation that can be quickly justified by reading the Northland team sheet for Thursday's encounter, and comparing it to Waikato's.
For Northland's three debutantes there are seven in the Waikato starting side and another four on the reserves bench. The lads from Mooloo country arrive with a new coach as well, Tony Hanks.
In terms of big game experience, Northland wins with room to spare.
Hooker Francis Smith excluded – the front rower on loan from Auckland – the Northland forward pack has an edge of experience with Bronson Murray an ideal anchorman at tighthead prop and locks Marty Veale and Dan Goodwin no strangers to representative combat.
Skipper Justin Collins is the obvious talisman of the loose forward trio and Holwell of the backline, but the attacking dangers of wingers Rene Ranger and Fetu'u Vainikolo suddenly add an unpredictable edge to the squad.
But enjoying success in pre-season games has never been a reliable measuring stick come championship fixtures.
In terms of testing Northland's apparent resurgence, Waikato are the perfect team to open the campaign.
Liam Messam, Tom Harding, new All Blacks lock Kevin O'Neill and front row hardman Alec de Malmanche give the Waikato pack a formidable core. Sosene Anesi and Dwayne Sweeney are also dangerous backline attackers.
But it's the Waikato bench that raises most eyebrows.
Sione Lauaki's reward for his Bledisloe Cup shocker is a place on the pine with the All Blacks loose forward set to play an impact role.
Unwanted by New Zealand for the rematch with Australia in Auckland on Saturday, Hanks named the big number eight in his matchday squad.
“It was felt it was a good chance to bring him into the Waikato environment, with the view