'Top two inches’ key says coach

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RUGBY

They want performances.

The Poverty Bay under-16s leave for Masterton tomorrow, to play three Division A games in the Hurricanes Youth Rugby Council tournament against Wellington, Manawatu and (with the rest day on Wednesday) either of those two, or Hawke’s Bay, on Thursday. The tournament trophy for Division A is the Don Broughton Shield.

“It’s about the top two inches with these boys,” said Willie Waitoa, who shares the head coach’s mantle with former Connacht first five-eighth Miah Nikora.

“We have the talent and ability. It comes down to whether we’re prepared to work hard and concentrate, because, if we are, we can compete with the top teams. Our region has some of the best talent in the country but, as they say, hard work will always beat talent if talent isn’t prepared to work hard.”

Poverty Bay have beaten Thames Valley 34-21 at the Rectory ground on September 8 and Wairarapa Bush 26-14 in Napier on September 15, and lost to Hawke’s Bay 31-12 in Wairoa last Saturday.

Nikora has done excellent work with the backs.

“They’re all gifted with natural talent for rugby, so for me it’s been more about trying to fine-tune their skill sets and getting them to understand their position-specific roles,” he said.

POVERTY BAY SQUAD, 1-24: Kitini Taihuka, Isaiah Kiwara, Edward Fili-Weti, Te Kauri Waitoa, Setefano Tolu, Amos Roddick (captain), Lochi Mead, Henare Brooking, Jordan Christie, Anaru Paenga-Morgan, Lyric Baty-Akurangi, Tuteari Te Rauna-Lamont, Whetu King-Taufa, Te Aotahi Tuhaka, Tyrese Tuwairua-Brown, Reef Roberts, John Hustler, Max Briant, Kayleb Te Whare, Von Huata, Adrian McDonald, Bryan Howard, Manaakiao Maxwell, Nicolas Proffit.