“We’re excited,” said Ozich, who guided the Magpies to the Championship Final last year.
“The atmosphere’s going to be good. We have two debutants — tighthead prop Dennis Tapusoa of Hastings Rugby and Sports Club, and halfback Eddie Henare, whom we’ve signed from the Crusaders.
“Also, we’ve two guys about to play their 50th game in black and white — our locks, 6ft 6in Tom Parsons and 6ft 7in Geoff Cridge.
“We have chemistry, synergy and continuity factored into our game-plan but one of the keys to a strong performance tomorrow will be to fight against complacency.
“Kianu and the boys’ challenge is to keep each other honest, and be accountable.”
The Kianu Ozich speaks of is 22-year-old rake and Parsons’ co-captain Kianu Kereru-Symes, a Hawke’s Bay senior representative for four years.
Kereru-Symes said: “I’m still learning how I want to approach the role, how I give off energy to the boys. I’m a lot younger than the average skipper in our competition, so I’m still learning on the go. I’ve got pretty good people to learn off, though — the likes of our full-time captain, Ash Dixon — and Tom.”
NPEC head coach Hosea Gear was a magnificent player noted for his composure, but he wouldn’t be human if he weren’t counting the hours down to kick-off.
East Coast are among the country’s most popular teams and students of our nation’s rugby story know that Hawke’s Bay — on their own patch — nearly came a cropper against the Sky Blues in 2001. The Poverty Bay side of 1999 and the Wanganui outfit of 2012 both experienced what mayhem NPEC can wreak at home. Napier is 350 kilometres — and a lifetime — away from Ruatoria, the site of the Bay and Wanganui’s finals agony.
Gear, in his second year as head coach of the Coast, has earned tremendous respect from the locals.
“I just want us to do well in what we’re trying to achieve,” he said.
“It’s hard with limited time to prepare, especially against good opposition.
“There are a few things in our game that we’ve been working on since we played Poverty Bay on Queen’s Birthday Weekend, and there are a couple of new things that we’re trying to build. I’d be pleased if we can get those things going tomorrow.
“We had 40 at training on Wednesday night, which would have to be a record number.”
The man who led the Coast to victory, 28-23, against Poverty Bay on June 5, will be up front from the blindside flank tomorrow. Hone Haerewa, fetcher Tanetoa Parata and No.8 Will Bolingford will combine in a heady mixture of passion, fury and controlled aggression. Haerewa and Bolingford are fierce enough, but Parata gives 100 percent in any jersey he plays in — his impact and skills are dynamite.
Added to that, the second row have the qualities of both workhorse and monstrous strength in Richard Green and Riki Waitoa. Waitoa can match anyone else in either side in terms of physical presence.
And while with NPEC it is always possible that changes may be made almost up to kick-off, Coast fans can take comfort that Gear, assistant coach/forwards coach Morgan Wirepa Jnr and scrum coach Laman Davies will respect the Sky Blues’ history of powerful forward play. Even now, the memory of the Sky Blues’ near-unstoppable rolling maul has not vanished from McLean Park. It has been 20 years since the Magpies clung on, 30-27, in the national second-division final.
Haerewa said: “It’s not every day that you play against a professional team — have an opportunity to try things against a quality side — and there’s a good vibe in our team. We’re pretty relaxed, but a few nerves might start kicking in shortly, which isn’t a bad thing.”
Kick-off is scheduled for 3.05pm tomorrow live on SKY Sport 1. The match officials are referee Stuart Curran (Manawatu) and his fellow New Zealand High Performance squad members, the Hawke’s Bay pairing of former Chiefs first-five Daniel Waenga as assistant referee No.1 and Tipene Cottrell as AR2.
Perrin Manuel, Jorian Tangaere, Raniera Whakataka, Richard Green, Riki Waitoa, Hone Haerewa (captain), Tanetoa Parata, Will Bolingford, Sam Parkes, Te Rangi Fraser, Teina Potae, Tawhao Stewart, Tutere Waenga, Fabyan Kahaki, Verdon Bartlett. Reserves: Jody Tuhaka, Maia Fox, Pera Bishop, Jack Richardson, Tanira Nepia/Trent Proffit, Hamuera Moana, Rapata Haerewa, Tipene Meihana. Travelling reserves: Moana Mato, Kyah Hollis, James Henderson, Jesse Rye, Te Aho Morice.
Namatahi Waa, Kianu Kereru-Symes (co-captain), Joel Hintz, Geoff Cridge, Tom Parsons (co-captain), Josh Gimblet, Josh Kaifa, Gareth Evans, Ere Enari, Lincoln McClutchie, Anzelo Tuitavuki, Kienan Higgins, Stacey Ili, Dennon Robinson, Danny To’ ala. Reserves: Jacob Devery, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Dennis Tapasoa, Elijah Martin, Will Tremain, Connor McLeod, Jonah Lowe, Devan Flanders.
