Rugby: Bay coach braced for another stern test

Aiden Ross.

Bay of Plenty under-19 coach Brendon Webby has taken the stance of a realist ahead of his side's second meeting with a South Island powerhouse in four days at the Jock Hobbs National U19 Tournament in Taupo.

The team play Otago tomorrow after falling 32-6 to Canterbury on Sunday, with Webby wary of what his side may be in for.

"We watched Otago play yesterday, and they're bigger and fitter than us, so we're just going to have to win the battle," he said.

"Otago being a provincial union that's based in a super rugby franchise, they'll obviously be the same as Canterbury, more superior than us at the moment in that division.

"So we'll be looking to bring a point of difference to the game. A bit of 'Bay pride'. Representing our province and our union with pride."

That approach worked for the first half against Canterbury, with the highly fancied southerners only leading 13-6 at the break."

"The boys were playing with a lot of passion, which was really pleasing," he said.

"In the second half we gave away a little too much possession. We were able to get some positives out of the game, with Troy Webber, blindside flanker and Aiden Ross, loosehead prop and captain, being the standout players for that match."

Ross said the side were beginning to gel after a slow start.

"The team have been together for about 10 weeks now and we started off really slow and patchy, but these last few weeks we've really come together."