Keane in a buzz over prospects [Nelson Mail]
The excitement levels are building within the Tasman Makos camp and head coach Kieran Keane is enjoying the vibe as much as anybody.
Despite frustrating injury concerns for several key players, Keane was delighted with the Tasman Rugby Union's player retention and recruitment processes.
He was also pleased with the form of his contracted players involved in the Nelson Bays and Marlborough club competitions.
Loose forward Liam Squire's troublesome ankle is on the mend and, according to Keane, a hand injury to Robbie Malneek and an ankle ligament injury suffered last weekend by Blues prop Tim Perry in Dunedin are both short term concerns and not the season-ending "killer blows" like that suffered last year by Squire.
Keane added to the feel-good flavour when he confirmed in-form flanker Shane Christie as this season's captain, replacing Andrew Goodman who decided to remain in Ireland.
However, he won't be announcing his official squad until Monday, July 15.
Tasman's opening ITM Cup clash against Southland is still 10 weeks away although Keane, free this year of his previous Highlanders Super Rugby commitments, was enjoying a more relaxed pre-season.
"There's a good feel around the place, the boys have got a spring in their steps, the gym trainers have done a wonderful job and are continuing to do so so there's a buzz about the Makos and there's a buzz about the White Pointers [Tasman B]," Keane said.
"We've been able to bring certain people into the region to play for clubs, we've encouraged that to happen. We've contracted some pretty useful people from overseas who will add to the team and provide a bit of glue so things have gone particularly well."
Tasman are looking for four local players to help fill vacancies at halfback, inside back, outside back and at tight forward.
"The club season's looking pretty good, things are picking up after a slow start so there's a lot of competition going on there.
"We've still got to name some players from our local competition but we're going through and analysing that process as we speak.
"We have a process that we follow and it's pretty thorough and we've got to do that over the next three or four weeks.
"One thing I'm probably pleased about the most is that our representative players have been standing out and that was a definite edict - we went to our contracted players and that's one of the things that we asked them to achieve, so that was pretty pleasing to see them stand up."
As for Waratahs winger Peter Betham's possible re-signing, negotiations are continuing.
"We're still looking for some X-factor. We have been trying to recruit Peter Betham back but that's up in the air. We know that he's very keen to return - he's publicly stated that - and we'd have him in a heartbeat but that remains to be seen."
Keane will announce a 26 or 27-man squad on July 15 which will assemble on July 22. Tasman play a pre-season match against Canterbury in Kaikoura on Wednesday, July 31, followed by a match against Otago in Nelson on Sunday, August 4.
The squad then go into camp in Picton from August 6-9 before Tasman start their ITM Cup campaign in Invercargill on Saturday, August 17.
- © Fairfax NZ News
