Gear names team

Challenge laid out: Ngāti Porou East Coast lays out a challenge to South Canterbury during last years season. NPEC head coach Hosea Gear has named his squad for the up coming Queens Birthday weekend clash against Poverty Bay. Picture by Paul Rickard

Queen's Birthday will be a bruising weekend.

Enterprise Cars Ngāti Porou East Coast head coach Hosea Gear, who two days ago at 38 proved for the Classic All Blacks in Madrid that his rugby prowess on the big stage remains, has named a 37-man squad with a combined total of 474 caps.

The Sky Blues are without their outstanding captain and back-row forward of the past two years, Hone Haerewa, but many of the men up for selection on June 4 have known ups and downs and come through both the wiser for it.

Nine debutants are in the squad.

Gear likes what he's seen so far.

“I'm in regular communication with a lot of them about where I want them to be at, and what I want them working on,” Gear said.

“I'm pretty happy with the squad. We have a lot of boys from last year plus new faces to continue our growth. We've lost Hone, Sam Parkes and Te Rangi Fraser but that gives others a chance to step up and take their opportunity.”

Strongman Perrin Manuel, the imperturbable scrum-anchor, is an excellent tighthead prop. He, along with Uawa captain Patrick Allen, Tokararangi titan Riki Waitoa and a host of other tough nuts make this pack a formidable unit.

All of the inside backs selected are capable. The Coast have goal-kicking options and their outside backs — such as BJ Sidney of Uawa and Kris Palmer of Hikurangi — have the ability to defuse pressure situations and lead counter-attacks.

If both forwards and backs click for the Coast, Gear — in his third season with the Sky Blues — will see more progress towards the polished but passionate, creative yet disciplined final product that he believes they can become.