Billy Ropiha is tackled by a Northland defender during yesterday's Bowl final. Photo / NZME
Where was the aggression and necessary size at the breakdown?
This question had to be asked after the Aerospread Ltd Hawke's Bay team's disappointing finish at the National Sevens tournament which finished in Rotorua yesterday. The Tafai Ioasa-coached side, which travelled north as the second seeds, lost 17-10 to Northland
in the Bowl final.
A lack of mongrel and size was often exposed as Hawke's Bay won the Central Zone tournament in Levin last month. Ioasa and his assistant Danny Lee could have done with a Trent Boswell-Wakefield or a Tony Lamborn. However these vital changes weren't made and the Bay was beaten regularly in the physicality stakes at the weekend.
Two poor kickoffs and some soft defence saw the Bay lose their first pool game 21-15 against Taranaki on Saturday. They lost 10-7 to Wellington before finishing pool play with a 26-19 win against Otago.
There was improvement against weaker opponents yesterday with Hawke's Bay beating South Canterbury 28-12 in their Bowl quarter-final and Tasman 24-17 in their semifinal. Against Northland, Hawke's Bay had the bulk of possession and territory but couldn't capitalise as often as they should have. On the few occasions Northland ventured into the Bay's half they scored.
