The Steamers don't need key performance indicators or tackle statistics to know they've played badly.
They can taste it in the salt dripping off their brows, and the sand gritting in their teeth. Bay of Plenty coach Vern Cotter took his squad to Mount Maunganui's Main Beach yesterday and thrashed his
players under a beaming spring sky and in front of hoardes of schoolchildren on a school trip.
It's a special treat Cotter saves for when he thinks his players need a kick in the backside _ and two big losses and a scratchy 18-17 win over Taranaki on Sunday qualified for that.
"It's very hard," Tongan prop Taufa'ao Filise said in typically understated fashion yesterday.
Filise's huge frame glistened with sweat and his chest was still heaving 10 minutes after a series of grueling tackling drills on the soft sand.
"We know we haven't played well when we have to go to the beach!" he added.
Filise is a veteran of these sessions, but they never get any easier.
What is getting easier for the 123kg prop, who played for the Blues in Super 12 this season, is keeping the desired fitness so at least he can last through the sessions.
Filise and hooker Aleki Lutui were called back into the Tongan team after a two-year absence this year, and played in a series of World Cup qualifying matches against Samoa and Fiji.
Although Tonga finished last, the Pacific Island side has a comparatively easy schedule against Rarotonga, Papua New Guinea and an Asian qualifier - likely to be Korea - to make the 2007 tournament in France. After falling out with former coach Jim Love, Filise and Lutui were delighted to be back under new coach and former Wallaby Viliame Ofahengaue.
"It was pretty good to be back. The welcome was pretty warm from the team and we're hoping to keep in there until the World Cup."
Filise had a week's break after the Pacific series, but then had to go back to Tonga to look after his sick father, and missed the first NPC game against Otago, and only played for the development side against Canterbury.
Several players sat out yesterday's tough training session, including halfback Charles Hubbard (shoulder) and centre Hayden Reid, but midfielder Jeff Ierome took full part in his comeback from a thigh injury.
