Makos coach wary of gutsy Manawatu [Nelson Mail]
Tomorrow is being treated as a playoff dress rehearsal and everyone's expected to know their lines.
The Tasman Makos face Manawatu in their final ITM Cup rugby championship clash at Blenheim's Lansdowne Park tomorrow afternoon, ahead of Tasman's home semifinal the following weekend.
It was at exactly this stage last season that Tasman came horribly unstuck against North Harbour at Trafalgar Park - a loss that then cost Tasman a home semifinal against Otago. But these are different circumstances and with the home playoff advantage already secured, head coach Kieran Keane was adamant his players needed to treat tomorrow's contest as a quarterfinal, and to impose themselves and their structures on a Manawatu side still with an outside chance of securing a semifinal.
That would mean them upsetting Tasman and Counties Manukau having beaten Southland in last night's final Ranfurly Shield clash, which they did, 25-7. And while conscious of the need to field a strong lineup, Keane said there were also players in need of a rest with two more potential games on the line.
No 8 Liam Squire is out after aggravating a calf-muscle strain against Taranaki, and winger James Lowe is being rested after stacking up some significant playing time this season. Hooker Quentin MacDonald also needs a break and Francis Smith needs game time ahead of next week's semifinal.
Lock Tevita Cavubati returns on the bench after missing last week's scheduled start against Taranaki when he injured his knee in Saturday's captain's run. It means George Stowers will again lock the scrum with Joe Wheeler.
Keane has plenty of respect for Manawatu and agreed that Hawke's Bay's upset win over Wellington in Napier on Thursday was a clear warning about attitude and the dangers of underestimating opponents.
"Wellington just weren't up for it, and Hawke's Bay put them to the sword and won in a canter really," said Keane.
"For us, we're treating [tomorrow's game] as a dress rehearsal and the whole focus throughout the week has been about us and less about the opposition, so there are certain things that we really want to ensure that we get right. It's been quite good mentally and we're treating it as a quarterfinal and a dress rehearsal, which is a luxury most other teams don't have, so it'd be a major disappointment to [assistant coach] Leon [MacDonald] and I if the boys don't take that opportunity."
This week's review of Sunday's 27-20 win over Taranaki revealed a poor second-half defensive effort.
"We were concerned about our defence and our structures, and also in our individual tackling, so that's been a strong focus for us this week."
But he was also concerned about the unpredictability of a Manawatu side that, even in defeat, had caused several more highly rated teams a lot of grief this season.
"They've grown a leg this year in terms of their results at home. Their away games haven't been that flash, but they'll be looking to turn those things around and start a new trend in that regard.
"They are a gutsy team and they have a never-say-die attitude, coming from a small province like we do. It'll be an intense and entertaining game, I would suspect."
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW
WHAT: Tasman v Manawatu
WHERE: Lansdowne Park, Blenheim
WHEN: Tomorrow, 4.35pm
REFEREE: Mike Lash (Southland)
HEAD-TO-HEAD: Played 7 (2006-2012), Tasman 5 wins, Manawatu 2 wins LAST MATCH: Tasman 27 Manawatu 3, FMG Stadium, Palmerston North, September 9, 2012
TASMAN MAKOS: Robbie Malneek, Bryce Heem, Kieron Fonotia, Tom Marshall, Mitchell Scott, Marty Banks, Billy Guyton, Tevita Koloamatangi, Shane Christie (captain), Gary Redmond, Joe Wheeler, George Stowers, Sila Puafisi, Francis Smith, Tim Perry. Reserves: Quentin MacDonald, Siua Halanukonuka, Tevita Cavubati, Vernon Fredericks, Mark Swanepoel, Andy Symons, Mike Wells.
MANAWATU TURBOS: Lewis Marshall, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Jason Emery, Tevita Taufu'i, Newton Tudreu, Jade Te Rure, Papa Wharewera, James Oliver, Callum Gibbins, Heiden Bedwell-Curtis, Michael FitzGerald, Nick Crosswell, Ma'afu Fia, Rob Foreman, Chris Eves. Reserves: Bryn Templeman, Jared Brock, Fraser Stone, Antonio Kiri Kiri, Nic Stirzaker, Hamish Northcott, Leroy van Dam
