Wairarapa-Bush rugby captain Mike Robinson is "quietly confident" his team can beat Poverty Bay in the NPC third division grand final at Gisborne on Saturday.
That despite the fact that when the two teams clashed in preliminary round action Poverty Bay ran out comfortable 30-5 winners.
Robinson recalls that game as being of contrasting halves with Wairarapa-Bush giving every bit as good they received in the first, but then for some unfathomable reason completely going off the boil in the second.
"I don't know what it was, but we just switched off in that last 40 minutes," he said. "It was like we'd all decided to get on the bus and go home. Mentally we just weren't there."
At the same time, however, Robinson was impressed by Poverty Bay's willingness to run the ball from practically any position on the paddock
"You can't relax against a team like them and unfortunately that's what we did last time," he said. "Their outside backs are pretty slick and they'll punish you if the defence isn't up to scratch."
Robinson anticipates Poverty Bay also looking to take Wairarapa-Bush on up front on Saturday and he is relishing the prospect of that challenge.
He has respect for the bulk and mobility of the Bay pack, but believes the Wairarapa-Bush eight is capable of more than holding their own.
"Our scrum has worked well through most of the season and our lineout has really come on over the past few weeks," he said " They won't intimidate us, that's for sure."
While delighted with his team's effort of making Saturday's final-which will be televised live on Sky Sport One-Robinson is adamant the best is still to be seen of them.
He agrees entirely with comments made by coach Peter Russell that they are still to put a full 80 minutes together .
"Yes, I think it's fair to say we haven't really hit our straps yet," he said. "We've played up to 60 minutes of good rugby in some games but that's where it has stopped.".
Robinson is quicke to refute any suggestion, however, that their consistency hassles are due to any lack of desire by the players to give it everything for a whole game.
"I think it might be the opposite-we're just trying too hard," he said. "We seem to be tightening up towards the end of our games rather than relaxing and just letting things happen. We've got a lot of young guys and it's all part of the learning process, isn't it?"
Robinson says patience-or rather the lack of it- has been another bugbear for Wairarapa-Bush this season. Numerous scoring opportunities have gone begging because of the last pass being forced or the ball carrier electing to go on their own.
"Patience can be a big virtue in rugby," he said. "The more you hurry things the more likely you are to mess them up."
Robinson is making no decisions on his own rugby future until after Saturday's game.
He was "absolutely thrilled" to play his 50th match for Wairarapa-Bush in the semi-final win over Mid-Canterbury and is thoroughly enjoying being part of a side which has shown excellent spirit both on and off the field.
"The management has done a terrific job in creating the sort of environment where everybody feels part of the team", he said. "There have been no issues-it's been tremendous in that respect'
Robinson is firmly of the belief that a number of the younger players in the current Wairarapa-Bush squad have the potential to scale far greater heights in the sport, and he hopes the bold showing by the side at third division level this season has helped them along the way.
"When you think there are only three or four old heads in the side there's a lot of score for improvement in the team yet, isn't there?"
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