Steamers lifted by domination in lineouts

Call it luck or put it down to good planning but the Bay of Plenty Steamers engine room aren't resting on their laurels after causing a complete meltdown of Counties-Manukau's lineout in their ITM Cup opener in Pukekohe on Sunday.
Seven times Bay of Plenty pilfered ball from Counties' throws, rounding out the shellacking by winning all their own lineouts, giving them one area at least they could claim the physical high ground in a scrappy 20-13 win.
Far from sitting back and basking in the afterglow of a job well done, the Steamers forwards piled into their work again this week and, pressed by key lineout jumpers Luke Andrews and Culum Retallick, stayed behind for an extra half-hour at training on Tuesday to polish the set piece.
Former All Black lock Keith Robinson claimed - rightly or not - that he'd cunningly keyed into Bay of Plenty's lineout and worked out their calls in an embarrassing 33-12 national provincial championship rout six seasons ago, although Andrews is dubious and distanced himself from suggestions such subterfuge had taken place on Sunday.
"I'd be surprised it that sort of stuff goes on anymore, unfortunately, because it'd certainly make life easier if we had a list of the opposition's calls," 35-year-old Andrews laughed.
"I'd say it was more our own systems working, likewise with the scrums. You've got to remember it's such a team sport, so while a lot of credit is given to the guys jumping there's two other guys either side of them who are working as hard or harder.
'You need good understanding and good timing and it's taken a while for us to get there. We've got some good systems in place that we'll stick with now for the season."
Counties skipper Jamie Chipman is known as a prolific caller of lineout ball to himself, something Retallick undoubtedly knew and countered expertly with the aid of his lifters.
Whether North Harbour's key lineout forwards James King and Chris Smith will be as easy to pluck at Baypark on Saturday is debatable, although Andrews said being able to disrupt any team's set piece, scrum or lineout, was satisfying.
"It's one area of the game we were happy about and good set piece has always been a big focus. We stopped them from getting continuity by taking ball off their set phase and if you bleed a team like that it really affects them elsewhere on the paddock."
Andrews narrowly escaped becoming the first ITM Cup player this season to book a date with the New Zealand Rugby Union judiciary after a bout of aggressive rucking on Sunday. Told after the game he'd be cited and would be required in Wellington, Andrews was left off with a warning.
"I was a bit nervous and admit it wasn't a great moment in my career. To be let off with a warning because of my good record - in my time with the Bay at least - was a relief."
He isn't required on Saturday, with Retallick linking with Leon Power as coaches Sean Horan and Paul Feeney look ahead to a torrid stretch of three home games in nine days against North Harbour, Waikato and Wellington.
Other key changes include Jason Hona moving from the wing to partner Phil Burleigh in midfield, Chris Noakes at first-five, Luke Braid back in at flanker, Ben Smith onto the left wing, Taniela Moa at halfback and two new frontrowers in John Pareanga and Bronson Murray.
"People might look at the lineup and think 'first home game, they're taking a bit of a gamble', but we've got faith in the entire 28 players in squad," Horan said. "In the past we might have played the best team for as long as we can and ended up dead tired at the end, but this time we're mindful of the games we've got coming up next week."
Bay of Plenty Steamers
Toby Arnold, Lelia Masaga, Phil Burleigh, Jason Hona, Ben Smith, Chris Noakes, Taniela Moa, Colin Bourke (capt), Sam Cane, Luke Braid, Culum Retallick, Leon Power, Josh Hohneck, John Pareanga, Bronson Murray. Reserves: Dan Perrin, Tristan Moran, Greg Pleasants-Tate, Leighton Price, Carl Axtens, Jamie Nutbrown, Dan Waenga, Lance MacDonald.REST: Luke Andrews takes it easy at training.