After accounting for the competition champions Thames Valley at Paeroa last weekend, on the heels of a narrow pre-season loss to Hawke’s Bay Saracens, Poverty Bay have a chance to show the home crowd they’re the real deal this year.
South Canterbury, though, rarely miss the playoffs.
They’re also coming off a 26-20 loss to North Otago, so will not be short of motivation to bank competition points against the Bay.
Poverty Bay coach Tom Cairns thought South Canterbury could be stung by their loss.
“They’re very organised, very structured,” he said.
“They have extreme pace in the backline and powerful forwards.
“We certainly can’t afford to be passive. We’ll have to come out and bang from the start.”
Both teams are missing key personnel.
South Canterbury have two players in the Heartland XV to play Samoa tomorrow and their coach, Nigel Walsh, is part of the Heartland XV coaching set-up.
Team still ‘building’Poverty Bay player Mark Atkins was to be on duty for the Heartland XV but also withdrew and the home side will also be without first five-eighth Kelvin Smith and No.8 Tamanui Hill, who are overseas for a wedding.
Among the changes, the decision to start Leaf at second-five is the one that stands out.
The coaching staff could have gone with other options but Leaf will not shy away from the physical confrontation.
Reeves, too, is a hard man to tackle. He could have played at fullback if the selectors wanted to leave Tauatevalu at centre but, with his pace, swerve and counter-attacking ability, Tauatevalu is an immense threat at the back.
Reeves has enormous utility value and always presents a compelling case to start somewhere in the backline.
The athletic and strong Te Kani is a must for the team every time he is fit to play and he starts this week in place of Jacob Cook at lock.
Bolingford was an option to play at No.8 but the selectors opted for Tapsell there, with White coming into the side at No.6.
McGuire played at first-five against Saracens and looked comfortable there.
Rangihuna comes in for wing Korey Love and Scotty McKinley goes from fullback to the substitutes bench. McKinley can provide cover for the wings.
Cairns said the first game highlighted things to work on and the team were “building” towards where they needed to be.
South Canterbury’s build-up, too, has been different from the usual this week.
Walsh’s assistants, Shaun Breen and Chris Gard, will take the reins on the coaching front.
Team manager Greg Brosnan said halfback Willie Wright and wing Kalavini Leatagaga would be away with the Heartland XV.
“They are both first-choice players in the South Canterbury team and will be missed, although we do have two experienced Heartland campaigners in their place in Theo Davidson and Brad Tunnicliffe.”
Brosnan said South Canterbury would have to be switched on from the kick-off. “We are always very wary of Poverty Bay at home.”
The Bay’s victory over Thames Valley showed they had worked hard in the pre-season, he said.
“They will be wanting to go back-to-back in front of their home fans.
“South Canterbury will need to be a lot better this week to win.
“The team were disappointed with their performance against North Otago, and have trained hard this week.
“With such a short, sharp competition, it is important to bank points each week to stay in the hunt for the Meads Cup.”
POVERTY BAY: Andrew Tauatevalu, Hunter Mokomoko, Ethine Reeves, Jacob Leaf, Nathan Rangihuna, Tane McGuire, Mario Counsell, Quade Tapsell, Adrian Wyrill, Fawn White, Gabe Te Kani, Ken Houkamau (c), Jody Allen, Rikki Terekia, Toru Noanoa.
Reserves: Matekaeroa McGuire, Lance Dickson, Semisi Akana, Juston Allen, Will Bolingford, Willy Grogan, Scotty McKinley.
SOUTH CANTERBURY: Zac Saunders, Clarence Moli, Shayne Anderson, Joel Smith, Brad Tunnicliffe, Miles Medlicott, Theo Davidson, Siu Kakala, Nick Strachan (c), Anthony Amato, Solomone Lavaka, Reegan O’Gorman, Dan Suter, Ben Hewitson, Matt Fetu.
Reserves: Cameron Hucker, Tokomaata Fakatava, Philip Fuls, Cam Russell, James Wilson-Bishop, Reilly Cormack, George Lott.
