Injured Magpies captain Brendon O'Connor (left), Ihaia West, Mark Atkins, Ash Dixon, Chris Eaton and Richard Buckman reflect the mood in the Magpies camp yesterday. Photo / Paul Taylor
True, the late withdrawal of Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby team captain Brendon O'Connor was a setback.
But there is no excuse for the shocker the Magpies produced in their 29-3 loss to the Manawatu Turbos in yesterday's ITM Cup Championship top-of-the-table clash at a windswept FMG Stadium in Palmerston North.
What if it had been a semifinal or a final?
Three consecutive away losses from a team with this much depth and talent is unacceptable. Magpies head coach Craig Philpott agreed his troops didn't match the physicality and skill levels of the Turbos.
"The weather conditions were difficult. They adapted to them and we didn't," he said.
Openside flanker O'Connor injured his hip when passing the ball during a pre-game training session yesterday morning and that forced a reshuffle of the loose forward trio. Tony Lamborn switched from blindside to the openside, Trent Boswell-Wakefield moved from No8 to the blindside and with Mark Atkins starting at No8, the Magpies were one player short on the subs bench.
Poor discipline also let the Magpies down. They conceded 15 penalties, five more than the Turbos, although Philpott felt his troops were hard done by with some of the decisions from first-season ITM Cup referee Paul Williams of Taranaki.
While Lamborn was sinbinned for not rolling away at the tackle the Magpies conceded 12 points, and with 11 minutes left they were never going to recover from a 26-point deficit. The Turbos tasted Kelvin Tremain Memorial Cup glory for the first time since October 6, 2012.
The Magpies haven't won a first-class fixture in Palmerston North since the Championship final in 2011. Philpott said there was a chance the Magpies could return to Palmy for this season's final and that 2011 feat could be repeated.
"We've just played three games in eight days ... now we've got six days to get back on the horse," Philpott added, referring to Saturday's final Ranfurly Shield defence of the season against Southland at Napier's McLean Park.
This was the first time this season the Magpies didn't score a try. They produced their worst performance of the season on a day when the Turbos were close to their best, with captain and openside flanker Callum Gibbins securing the bonus point for four tries in the 69th minute.
The Magpies have to score a bonus-point win against Southland and hope the Turbos don't get a point in their away match against Otago on Friday night if they are to regain top spot on the points table.
Yesterday's strong southwesterly was always going to be worth 15 to 19 points and Manawatu proved that when they established a 17-0 halftime lead. There was hope for the Magpies when first five-eighth Ihaia West kicked a penalty in the opening minute of the second half.
However, when Turbos second five Hamish Northcott scored his try in the 66th minute and All Black pivot Aaron Cruden converted it, the hosts had a 24-3 lead. Even with the wind the Magpies were never going to recover.
Cruden, who last played for the Turbos in the 2011 final, attracted loud cheers from the crowd when he took the field in the 50th minute as a substitute for Otere Black, and provided some classy touches. While handling errors let the Magpies down at key times, the Turbos' handling in the conditions was admirable.
Former New Zealand under-20 centre Jason Emery put fullback Nehe Milner-Skudder away for a spectacular try with a clever pass in the 19th minute.
With Black's conversion the Turbos had an early 14-0 lead.
During the first 24 minutes only one phase of the match had been played in the Turbos' half.
As the final score suggests, the Turbos' defensive work was outstanding.
Atkins made some memorable charges for the Magpies but lacked support. Magpies lock Mark Abbott again had a high work rate.
Improving discipline and reducing handling errors and soft turnovers will be the key work-ons for the Magpies before hosting the Stags.
While all of the Turbos deserve praise for the display produced on the Manawatu union's oldtimers day, props Ma'afu Fia and Canadian international Hubert Buydens were commanding figures. Lock Michael Fitzgerald again showed why he is a third-season Super player.
Retaining the Ranfurly Shield on Saturday will be the only acceptable apology from the Magpies.
Match stats
• Manawatu Turbos 29 (Michael Fitzgerald, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Hamish Northcott, Callum Gibbins tries; Otere Black pen; Black 2, Aaron Cruden cons) HB Magpies 3 (Ihaia West pen) . HT: 17-0.
• Turning point: Turbos second five-eighth Hamish Northcott's try in the 66th minute. With Aaron Cruden's conversion the hosts lead 24-3 and the Magpies hopes of a late comeback were dashed.
• Heartstopper: The sinbinning of Magpies flanker Tony Lamborn in the 65th minute. The Magpies were hot on defence in their red zone and while Lamborn was in the bin the Turbos scored 12 points.
• Player of the match: Turbos prop Ma'afu Fia. A powerful figure at scrum time, produced numerous carries and his presentation at the breakdown was always first class.