Fijian import to help Makos stay on track [Nelson Mail]
The Tasman Makos will unveil their new Fijian flanker Nemani Nagusa tomorrow in Tauranga as they look to build on their promising start to this year's ITM Cup provincial rugby competition.
The Fijian international will start at blindside flanker against the Bay of Plenty Steamers in their second round clash and replaces Tevita Koloamatangi as the only change to the side that beat Hawke's Bay in Blenheim last Sunday.
Koloamatangi took a knock against the Magpies and is being rested as a precaution. However, Nagusa, who made the first of his three test appearances for Fiji against Italy in Suva earlier this year, will provide plenty of dynamism to the Makos' forward effort. He has also represented Fiji at sevens.
Nagusa was signed by the Tasman union for the season in a bid to maintain their squad strength after loose forwards Shane Christie and Liam Squire were invited to attend the recent All Blacks training camp. He offers a similar physical presence to Squire and joins a Makos side still buoyant from their impressive first round effort at Lansdowne Park.
Tasman's head coach Kieran Keane said that the major task this week had been keeping the players grounded following their satisfying 35-15 win over Hawke's Bay.
"We're trying to bring the boys back down to earth," Keane said.
"Keeping them grounded is probably the priority and making sure complacency isn't there."
So how do you achieve that?
"You point out that we weren't perfect . . . we had a bit of a rub of the green and we've got a fair bit to do to get our game the way we want it to be. So it wasn't hard pointing out their shortcomings because there were a few.
"I don't think our boys will have their heads in the clouds.
"We still have a fair bit to do with our structure, both on attack and defence. Our counter[attack] is reasonable and that could do with a bit of polish too. So we need to polish up things [but] you don't want to be too critical because a 35-point first up effort was pretty good.
"It's a fine line between success and failure, so we want to keep positive, but we want to remain grounded."
The Steamers made a disappointing start to their campaign, losing 34-23 to Southland in Invercargill last Friday and after only one win last season, have plenty to prove and play for.
Keane's anticipating some sort of backlash.
"They'll be a huge threat. They'll be disappointed about where they finished last week and now that they're at home, they'll be looking to make that a fortress. So I think we're going to wear it," he said.
"They've got a good scrum, good loose forwards, exciting backs. They have a lot of new faces which will be their downside, but they will bring a lot of freshness and enthusiasm. That makes them quite a dangerous animal - especially at home.""They got a pretty passionate coach up there in Herb [former All Black Kevin Schuler] and I'm sure he'll have them fizzing.
Keane said there were a number of aspects to tomorrow's challenge.
"There'll be the physical encounter that'll test everybody, and then there'll be the accuracy and the tactical side of it as well. They're all big asks, but you just have to carry that momentum forward and just try and be as accurate as we can and keep improving."
Still, Sunday's win also helped remove some rust for a number of players.
"It was probably a good blow out for some of our Super Rugby players, they probably needed the work, so it'll improve them I believe."
- The Nelson Mai
