You could have mistaken Clint Newland and Grant Webb for a couple of blokes soaking up the rays on any one of the smattering of islands dotted along the expansive South Pacific Ocean.
Various parts of their torsos exposed and glistening, the Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby pair were sprawled behind the goal line basking in the glory of the country's high yesterday.
But, akin to pooches, their ears perked up every time Magpies co-coach Peter Russell barked orders in the middle of the enclosed Tremains Field of Park Island, Napier.
While prop Newland and loosie Webb's demeanour was quite understandable - they are among a long list of the walking wounded - the same could not be said of the rest of the squad before their ITM Cup national provincial match tomorrow night (7.35pm) against Auckland at Eden Park.
Those at the coalface yesterday were split into two tribes.
The boys in black and white mounted waves of backline attacks as their forwards set up rucks with rigorous succession.
The other tribe wore fluorescent green bibs and stood staunch like gladiators, armed with blue tackle pads.
As the sun beat down on them, a few choice expletives could be heard emanating from the rumble.
All Black Israel Dagg finished off a couple of mock tries. So did winger Sinoti Sinoti, but with a bit more trumpet and fanfare - the cobra stance at one end and the flapping of wings (Magpies, one can only assume) at the other.
Was it Sinoti's dress rehearsal for tomorrow night's TV cameras?
Well, Elliot and Newland have, so why not Sinoti?
At the end of the sultry sparring session, including some lineout drills and kick-off routine, the forwards predominantly gave the backline boys a rousing standing ovation punctuated by Elliot's vociferous appraisal: "That's a beautiful finish."
All of the above resonates to the tune of US President Barrack Obama's rhetoric of: "Yes, you can!"
What Russell said was not within eavesdropping distance but, needless to say, nothing short of crisp, clinical or error-free footy must be on the blueprint if the Magpies are going to ruin the city slickers' song-fest party tomorrow night.
It appears after last Saturday's game of two halves at McLean Park, Napier, the litmus test is to produce an 80-minute affair that reinforces the mantra of "getting better with every game".
Russell's line-up tomorrow has three changes - the obvious departure of utility back Zac Guildford to the Delhi Commonwealth Games as part of the New Zealand sevens team; the ommission of Richard Buckman, who injured his shoulder against Taranaki; and the return of prop Anthony Perenise from a calf injury to send Jodi Allen back to the bench.
"That [number of injuries] plays in the back of your mind but we're out there to do the best we can and we have to make sure that the players who are going out there have all the tools and are ready to go," Russell said.
Other movements are on the bench with prop Whetu Barber back in the equation and the bolt from the blue, Bay under-20 lock Brodie Retallick, who received the PGG Wrightson Country Club of the Player Award last weekend.
Josh Keys and Leighton Price picked the short straw.
"Yes, we are competitive and we believe in having the guys on the edge," Russell explained of the pair's ommission.
So did the Magpies come out of the changing rooms with a bunker mentality against the Naki last Saturday?
Explained Russell: "No, not all. I think it was more to do with [Taranaki coach] Colin Cooper revving his guys up a bit.
"It's tit for tat. There's an ebb and flow in any game, be it a five-day cricket match or an 80-minute rugby game.
"We went out there in that second half to pile the points but they did first and we replied with a seven-pointer," said Russell, adding his troop's propensity to perhaps do a little too much saw them lose their structure and, consequently, concede two gimme tries.
Patience, he felt, was fundamental in ticking the scoreboard over nicely.
The energy and belief, Russell contended, are what the Magpies would take from the first half.
Cometh the hour and 20 minutes, Eden Park will, no doubt, put that theory to the test.
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