Although the home team won the last meeting 34-11 in Ruatoria, conditions this weekend may be very different — and Hikurangi coach Doone Harrison knows what’s coming.
“When I first played club rugby, Tokararangi were the gold standard — the toughest team to play, home or away — and my feelings on that haven’t changed,” Harrison said.
“They have plenty of talent and attacking quality, as in Israel Brown and Pamona Samupo, so we’ll have to be on our game.”
Tokararangi are on a mission.
“Before the season began, our only focus was to come back strong; that remains our No.1 goal,” coach Morgan Wirepa junior said.
“We’re happy with the results so far, we’re competitive . . . and there’s no love lost between ourselves and Hikurangi.”
Tokararangi were made to work hard at home for their 27-19 result against Ruatoria City in Week 6; Hikurangi beat Hicks Bay 36-0 at Wharekahika, although that was no romp.
Rugby fans should be in no doubt — how these teams play this game, and how effective they are in the process, may indicate who ends up where at the business end of the season.
This game is what East Coast rugby is at its heart.
Waiapu, coming off their first win of the season — 52-22 against Tokomaru Bay United — host Ruatoria City: 8 v 6.
In rugby, the level of interest in a game and the match-effort of players goes up where teams are close. City tasted victory three weeks ago. Both they and Waiapu want that again.
“Waiapu have a strong forward pack and you can never underestimate them,” City coach Lisa Muller said.
“They’re looking good after a great win against United. We’ll need to stick together.”
There’s no doubt about the freshness, vibe and sense of optimism around a team after said team won a game — particularly if the team in question had been doing it tough before that.
Waiapu certainly broke the shackles last Saturday. No.8-cum-second-five Tripoli Poi got a hat-trick, and centre Richard Tupou and fullback Wayne Kahaki both scored twice. The home side now know they can put points up, where previously that had been difficult.
City may still be without their No.8, Paddy Allen, due to injury. If he is unavailable, straight-shooting strongman Tim Barbarich will captain the side.
“This game will be won or lost up front,” Barbarich said.
“Our forwards need to dominate the collision area, move Waiapu’s big pack around. Our backs need to utilise the ball they get out wide and really chance their arm.”
On the face of it, top-four team Tihirau Victory Club — at home to Hicks Bay — should win, and Uawa ought to beat Tokomaru Bay United.
The Uawa-United game is 2 v 7. But Uawa captain and lock Scott Lasenby, whose team are coming off a 13-10 loss to TVC, are taking nothing for granted.
“We just want to forget about last week,” Lasenby said.
“This will be a battle up front, so we’ll just focus on our game plan and play to our strengths.”
Even without injured blindside flanker Rikki Kernohan, Uawa have a massive pack.
United cannot afford to miss first-up tackles but, that said, Uawa will not want to be sloppy. They won Game 1 this season 10 tries to one at Uawa Domain, but conditions that day were perfect.
The conditions might also help Hicks Bay in their assignment at Cape Runaway.
Hicks Bay player-coach Warren Henderson sees that match in the simplest terms.
“They’ve got big forwards and experienced backs. All we can do is hit ’em hard and see what happens.”
