Rugby: Heartland underdogs eyeing Utopian dream

Chris Wilton

Cold? No sweat. The Horowhenua-Kapiti boys would have been more worried if it was hot in Napier tonight.

"Look, we've been training at the foot of the Tararua mountains all this time so the cold isn't a problem for us," forwards coach Chris Wilton said last night for the Ranfurly Shield challengers, before they boarded their bus to travel to Napier for today's game against the Hawke's Bay Magpies at McLean Park in the 7.35pm kick off.

Scattered from the Paraparaumu to Foxton area, the 2014 Meads Cup semifinalists have only one or two players who last played in a shield match against Waikato three years ago.

"For 95 per cent of us it'll be our first televised game," said Wilton of a team of mostly tradespeople who were given ample notice to ask their employers for time off work to realise rugby utopia.

Two busloads of fans will arrive here to make the Heartland underdogs feel at home "for an awesome experience".

"It doesn't happen every time so we're really happy to take up the shield challenge," he said.

So what are the odds Horowhenua will do the unthinkable?

"Any game of rugby is about 15 against 15 so we will know when the game comes about at the park.

"Every player who puts on a Horowhenua-Kapiti jersey is coming to do their best," said Wilton of the side who Buller pipped 22-15 in last year's semifinals, their first playoffs since Mead Cup began in 2006.

Confessing to impartiality towards his forwards, a jovial Wilton said they traditionally boast a good pack but champion pace out wide and across among players ranging from 20 to 36 years old.

No7 and skipper Antony Fox, fullback Michael Tambour and locking twins Tainui (older by seven minutes) and Sonny Woodmass could set them alight. "When you're up against a great side like Hawke's Bay you have to take the attitude of giving your 100 per cent to see what happens."