Wheeler expects Otago backlash [Nelson Mail]
Joe Wheeler knows better than to bait the bear.
He's avoided ribbing several of his former Highlanders Super 15 team-mates about Otago's Ranfurly Shield loss to Hawke's Bay last Sunday, particularly his good mate Hayden Parker who missed the critical late conversion attempt that could have kept the shield in Dunedin.
The 25-year-old Tasman Makos lock is wary of it backfiring and giving his Otago mates any sort of ammunition ahead of Tasman's fourth-round ITM Cup rugby clash against the Razorbacks at Trafalgar Park tomorrow. With Wheeler playing his 50th game for the province and Tasman having never beaten Otago in seven previous ITM Cup encounters, there's too much at stake.
"That'll be a bit of a sore point," said Wheeler in reference to first five-eighth Parker's fateful miss.
"I might leave it a week, then if we get up [on Friday] I might give him a bit of ribbing about it. [Otherwise] he'll go 100 per cent and kill us, I can see it," joked Wheeler.
He has texted Parker to offer his sympathies although Wheeler is much more focused on trying to celebrate his own personal milestone in the appropriate manner.
"One of the main reasons for wanting to come back was to achieve that. I think it's pretty special obviously to achieve 50 games and still be relatively young."
Wheeler made his debut in Tasman's 33-23 win over Taranaki at Trafalgar Park in 2008 and has steadily evolved into a key member, not only of the playing 15, but also the leadership group. And he can think of no better way to bring up his 50-game milestone than by playing against some familiar faces.
"Obviously having my first year down with the Highlanders this year, it'd be cool to play against a couple of those guys that I've got to know really well - like Hayden Parker and Fumiaki [Tanaka] and Liam Coltman.
"I've got to know those guys really well and they're great blokes, so it's pretty special to share that sort of moment against those boys and hopefully create a bit of history in doing it - and being the first time Tasman's beaten Otago would be nice as well."
Wheeler was expecting some sort of Otago backlash from Sunday.
"We've got to be on our toes and we know that they're a good side. I think they'll show a little bit of backlash because they're obviously disappointed, but I think we've got the firepower to deal with it and absorb that pressure that I'm sure they'll put on us for the first maybe 20 or 30 [minutes] and then hopefully we can break their game down."
Wheeler said that the team's catch-phrase this season is "going from good to great" and that's been particularly evident in the forwards' impressive set-phase performances - most conspicuously at lineout time where they've so far won every ball on their own throw.
"I think it's just guys understanding the systems. Over the years there's been a lot of changes in the team, so I think this year we only had six new guys and guys just understand what we want to achieve. That makes a huge difference when you don't have to change too much and we've kept it simple."
Selectors Kieran Keane and Leon MacDonald have retained the same starting lineup from the previous week's win over Counties Manukau in Pukekohe, the only change coming on the bench where Robbie Malneek returns from the hamstring injury he suffered in round one against Southland.
"There's a real excitement amongst the group, there has been all year and it hasn't changed since day one. Guys are really looking forward to the games week by week and Kieran and Leon are doing a great job preparing us," said Wheeler.
"They're making training fun and the guys are really loving turning up and playing for each other."
Otago coach Tony Brown has made seven changes to the side which took the field in the Ranfurly Shield defence against Hawkes Bay. Of particular interest is the selection of former Nelson College and Nelson club loosie Willis Scott, brother of Tasman wing Mitchell Scott, who will make his starting debut for Otago on the openside flank.
MATCH FACTS WHAT:
Tasman v Otago
WHERE: Trafalgar Park, Nelson
WHEN: Tomorrow, 8.05pm
REFEREE: Aki Aso (Japan)
HEAD-TO-HEAD: Played 7 (2007-2011), Otago 6 wins, 1 draw
LAST MATCH: Otago 41 Tasman 34, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin, October 19, 2012 (ITM Cup semifinal)
TASMAN MAKOS: Marty Banks, Bryce Heem, Kieron Fonotia, Tom Marshall, James Marshall, Hayden Cripps, Mark Swanepoel, Tevita Koloamatangi, Shane Christie (captain), Liam Squire, Joe Wheeler, Alex Ainley, Sila Puafisi, Quentin MacDonald, Tim Perry. Reserves: Francis Smith, Siua Halanukonuka, Tevita Cavubati, Gary Redmond, Billy Guyton, Mitchell Scott, Robbie Malneek.
OTAGO RAZORBACKS: Buxton Popoali'i, Matt Faddes, Jayden Spence, Peter Breen, Kieran Moffat, Hayden Parker, Fumiaki Tanaka, Paul Grant (captain), Willis Scott, TJ Ioane, Tom Franklin, Charlie O'Connell, Tama Tuirirangi, Sam Anderson-Heather, Craig Millar. Reserves: Liam Coltman, Aki Seiuli, Tom Donnelly, Lee Allan, Josh Renton, Tei Walden, Fa'asiu Fuatai.
