Kieran Keane during his Magpies coaching days. Photo / File
Remember those primary school playground marbles swapsies games?
Yes ... the show me your's and I'll show you mine type. One of those scenarios has added some extra spice to the Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby team's ITM Cup opener against the Tasman Makos in Blenheim on Sunday.
Makos head coach and former Magpies mentor Kieran Keane initially yesterday refused to release his team for the Lansdowne Park clash. He wasn't prepared to until he had seen the Magpies lineup and Magpies head coach Craig Philpott didn't want to release his until this morning, well before the 48 hours prior to kickoff rule stipulated in the Cup handbook.
"The less time the Makos have to dissect our team the better," Philpott said.
Keane, who coached the Magpies during the 2002, '03 and '04 seasons, also stressed his trip to Napier's McLean Park wasn't a spy on the Magpies mission.
"I came up to Napier to check out a couple of players in the club final because we are a bit short of resources. It wasn't until the night before that I realised the Magpies were playing Waikato in their final pre-season game so it was good to have a look at."
He was impressed with the Magpies, particularly their second half, as they recovered from a 17-5 halftime deficit to win 39-22. Keane admitted to being a "bit envious" of the Magpies recruitment programme and pointed out there were quality players right through the Magpies squad.
"At the same time we've got a better team than last year on paper with greater depth. The question is whether or not we can become consistent enough."
He predicted a tough battle on Sunday. When asked if he expected it to be as close as last year's Championship final which the Makos won 26-25 Keane replied: "That was pure theatre and it was good to get away with it ... if you live in our neck of the woods."
The crafty former All Black and Canterbury midfield back who eventually released his team last night reckoned his Makos may be a "little bit underdone" to be taking on one of the best teams in the competition first up. His squad's pre-season programme consisted of two games against the Makos Emerging Players and one against Manawatu.
Philpott said his troops have relished the eight-day turnaround this week and have trained well. While Highlanders winger Richard Buckman has yet to train at 100 per cent this week, because of his bruised quad collected last weekend, Philpott is confident he will be ready to rock by game day.
Vice captain and Hurricanes hooker Ash Dixon has recovered from his back injury and will start. He replaces new Crusader Ged Robinson in the only change to the pack used last weekend.
The fact Taradale No8 Mark Atkins hasn't made the subs bench is likely to surprise many pundits. Philpott pointed out all three of his starting loosies, captain Brendon O'Connor and fellow flanker Trent Boswell-Wakefield along with Gareth Evans, can play the No8 role so he opted for Tony Lamborn as a specialist backup to O'Connor.
He is expecting a dry track and good weather so has opted for his electrifying back three of fullback Ryan Tongia and Buckman and Mikey Vuicakau on the wings. Atkins, props Jody Allen and Jason Long, lock Geoff Cridge, flanker Tom Stanley and first five-eighth Tyrone Elkington-MacDonald have been released to the Hawke's Bay Development team which takes on Poverty Bay in Wairoa.