The boys have put in a great week preparation-wise and we’re excited.”
“We started slowly last week but now we’re back at home in Tokomaru, the feeling has taken over,” said skipper Hone Haerewa. “We’re hungry for a win. We owe it to ourselves and the people.”
This will be the 27th fixture between the Coast and the Rams, who have won 23 of the previous 26 to the Sky Blues’ three.
With regular fetcher Trent Proffit out through injury, Mitch Crosswell has moved from No.8 to No.7 while Haerewa has shifted from blindside flanker to No.8 to accommodate Hoani Te Moana at No.6.
In the backs, Benny Haerewa is on the right wing in place of William Martin, who is on the bench.
The Coast have the personnel to stamp their feet at Hatea-a-rangi.
Big lock Adaam Ross is more than a handful with the ball in hand while Crosswell’s toughness and urgency is setting a high bar for others.
Coast teams have always played with flair and the break from club rugby has ensured the surface at Tokomaru Bay is in good condition and the crowd could be sizeable.
It is a ground at which players either thrive or are taken aback by the heady atmosphere generated by fans less than an arm’s length from the action.
Rams head coach Craig Jefferies expects the Coast at home to be a different beast than that which lost 15-75 to King Country last season.
“Mitch Crosswell’s a follow-me kind of player and Zac Guildford (at centre) is kicking the ball to the corners. They’re outstanding,” said Jefferies, who is in his second year at the helm.
“The Coast always play hearty and we’ve played some good rugby, too.”
King Country are sitting in ninth place with one win — 34-12 over Buller in week 2 — and two losses.
The Coast are 12th on one point.
The King Country team, captained by powerful loosehead prop Carl Carmichael, this season feature 14 players new to the Heartland Championship
A nor’ westerly breeze and temperature of 17 degrees is forecast for the match which will be controlled by Waikato Rugby Union referee manager Michael Winter with Melvyn Ashford (East Coast) and Isaac Hughes (Poverty Bay) his assistants.
NGATI POROU EAST COAST: Laman Davies, Wyntah Riki, Perrin Manuel, Scott Lasenby, Adaam Ross, Hoani Te Moana, Mitch Crosswell, Hone Haerewa (c), Sam Parkes, Chris Richardson, Epeli Lotawa, Tawhao Stewart, Zac Guildford, Benny Haerewa, Verdon Bartlett. R: John Brown, Pera Bishop, Anton King, Rikki Kernohan, Hamuera Baker, William Martin, Billy Manuel.
