CHALLENGE AHEAD: Waikohu back Ruan du Plooy (centre) — trying to burst through the YMP defence in the Poverty Bay club rugby final last Saturday — gets a taste of Ranfurly Shield rugby for Poverty Bay in Napier tomorrow. The YMP players are Jayden Milner (left) and Jesse Kapene. Picture by Paul Rickard
CHALLENGE AHEAD: Waikohu back Ruan du Plooy (centre) — trying to burst through the YMP defence in the Poverty Bay club rugby final last Saturday — gets a taste of Ranfurly Shield rugby for Poverty Bay in Napier tomorrow. The YMP players are Jayden Milner (left) and Jesse Kapene. Picture by Paul Rickard
Poverty Bay and Hawke's Bay will write another chapter in the 118-year history of the Ranfurly Shield tomorrow when they start the challenge match at McLean Park in Napier.
Hawke's Bay Magpies head coach Josh Syms said: “Playing our nearest neighbours is something we don't often do, so it's anan awesome opportunity we both want to take — the Shield just adds to the occasion.
“We don't know a lot about Poverty Bay, but Ted Walters is playing centre for them and he plays there for Napier-Tech — has played 150-plus games for them, since 2012 — so we'll certainly be watching out for him.”
The Civil Project Solutions Poverty Bay Weka under head coach Miah Nikora, will — in what has been forecast to be excellent conditions, 17 degrees with a northerly breeze — mount the second of seven challenges, the holders having already beaten South Canterbury 38-20, from 24-8 up at half-time, five weeks ago.
In his first year at the helm, Nikora's playing background and ability to read games stand him in good stead on this special occasion for Poverty Bay rugby — one on which both powerful tighthead prop James Higgins (Ngatapa) and OBM blindside flanker George Whakatope will play their 10th or “pocket” game.
“In defence, we're wanting to see connection and go-forward. With that, we'll be trying to slow Hawke's Bay's ball down as much as possible with dominant tackles. On attack it's about playing to our structures. If we can do that and hold onto the ball, we'll create opportunities: then it's just up to our boys to express themselves, when those opportunities arise,” said Nikora. “Our captain lock Dan Law leads by his actions first and foremost, and we have two vice-captains: whichever hooker of Shayde Skudder and Rikki Terekia are on the field at any given time with our No.8, Tamanui Hill.”
Law speaks plainly: “Our major emphasis this week has been on mind-set and and getting on with the challenge that lays ahead. We know that Hawke's Bay are a class side.”
The referees for tomorrow's fixture are Cameron Stone (Taranaki), with Sheldon Eden-Whaitiri (Hawke's Bay) as and Damien Macpherson (Poverty Bay), with the gates at McLean Park open from 1.45pm.
