ITM Cup: Prop wants no cards in home farewell

Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby prop Anthony Perenise was still copping flak from his teammates about Tuesday night's yellow card during the team's captain's run yesterday.
"I don't want another one against the Lions ... two yellows is a red right," said Perenise on the eve of tonight's ITM Cup crossover clash against the Wellington Lions at Napier's McLean Park.
"At the time, it was the right thing to do. Tasman had a four or five on one overlap ... they could have got seven points instead of the three," said Perenise as he reflected on his deliberate knock down in the Magpies 21-19 loss to the Makos.
Perenise, 28, agreed another yellow wouldn't be appropriate in his final outing on McLean Park.
Next week's match against Bay of Plenty in Rotorua will be his last for the Magpies before joining the Samoan team for build-up games to the World Cup and then embarking on a three-year contract with English club Bath.
"There's a question mark over what I will be doing after the Bath stint. I know props are at their peak at my age and, after my first one or two seasons at Bath, I'll get a gauge as to where I'm at.
"I'm excited about going over there but first jobs first ... the first is leaving the Bay on a good note and then it's the World Cup."
Naturally, the former Hurricane and Highlander wants to help the Magpies beat his former Lions team.
He will be marking his former Norths clubmate, Jacob Ellison, and he has plenty of knowledge on the Lions' all Hurricanes frontrow which also contains hooker Dane Coles and former All Black prop Neemia Tialata. "Jacob and I are close. I gave him some excellent feedback after the Lions win against Canterbury.
"This week's game will be a gauge as to how far we have come ... you know the story, there will be no friends until after the game. It could be Neemia's last game for the Lions ... I'm sure we'll catch up on and off the field too."
Perenise agreed that with both teams coming off a loss (the Lions lost 32-0 to Bay of Plenty in their last game) tonight's match will be a case of two desperate teams going to war.
"We've got to prepare ourselves and front up. Fortunately, it's another home game and we know the importance of it."
Decisions on three of the Magpies berths will be made prior to kick-off. Lock Brodie Retallick has a broken nose and, if he doesn't start, Samoan World Cup squad member Kane Thompson will start in the No4 jersey.
If Tu Umaga-Marshall doesn't shake off his groin injury, Tua Saseve will retain the centre's berth. Sinoti Sinoti and Tino Nemani have been bracketed for the substitute outside back's berth and who gets the nod here will be determined by who starts at the No13.
The ITM Cup's top points scorer, Andrew Horrell, has recovered from his groin injury which forced him out of the Makos game and he will start at second five-eighth for the Magpies. First five-eighth Daniel Kirkpatrick and captain and No8 Mike Coman are the regular starters still on the injured list.
Hawke's Bay age group product and former Te Aute College star Frae Wilson will start at halfback for the Lions.
Former Magpie and New Zealand Sevens kingpin Lote Raikabula will start on the right wing for the visitors.
Tonight's 6pm curtainraiser will see the Lindisfarne College 1st XV take on the Hutt International Boys College 1st XV of Wellington.
Teams:

Hawke's Bay: Mark Jackman, Richard Buckman, Tua Saseve/Tu Umaga-Marshall, Gillies Kaka, Andrew Horrell, Kahn Fotuali'i, Isaac Paewai, Karl Lowe, Adam Bradey, Bryn Evans, Kane Thompson/Brodie Retallick, Trent Boswell-Wakefield, Anthony Perenise, Hika Elliot (captain), Sona Taumalolo.
Substitutes: Danny Logan, Hikairo Forbes, Ben Tameifuna, Ashton Johnson, Hugh Reed, Brad Weber, Ryan McLeod, Sinoti Sinoti/Tino Nemani.
Wellington: Jason Woodward, Lote Raikabula, Alapati Leiua, Julian Savea, Shaun Treeby, Lima Sopoaga/Michael Hobbs, Frae Wilson, Victor Vito, Scott Fuglistaller, Mark Reddish/Brad Shields, Jeremy Thrush (c), Faifili Levave, Neemia Tialata, Dane Coles, Jacob Ellison.
Substitutes: Motu Matu'u, Whetu Henry, Reggie Goodes, Brad Shields/Joe Latta, Dean Brunsdon, TJ Perenara, Michael Hobbs/Lima Sopoaga, Apoua Stewart.