Taniwha primed for first ITM Cup clash

Northland are determined to shake their underdog title when they face Tasman in their opening ITM Cup clash at Toll Stadium tomorrow.
The Taniwha have come off second best to Tasman winning just one of their last five encounters in the national provincial championship, but there is something brewing in the Northland outfit that signals they won't be taken lightly in their bid for the second-tier title.
Ever the realist, Northland head coach Adriaan Ferris said he and the squad know they have to pull out the big guns to keep Tasman at bay.
"Tasman have had the wood on us in the last few years and we are really up against it. They play a very fast-paced game. They move the ball around, create quick rucks and keep the ball in play," Ferris said.
However, he said he believed the side he and assistant coach Derren Witcombe had gathered, had the potential to do great things this season.
"We'll have to be mindful of their quick game, and stay switched on for 80 minutes ... we'll have to look at ourselves and do the things we have done at training to try and stay on top of Tasman," the coach said.
There was no better motivation to win than playing at home - an advantage which would hopefully work in Northland's favour, he added.
Jared Payne, Rene Ranger and Lachie Munro joined the team for training this week after a rest period following their Super 15 campaign with the Blues. While Munro will start on the right wing tomorrow, Payne and Ranger will be fitness tested before the game to check niggly injuries.
Warren Dunn will start at centre and Jack McPhee will come in for regular skipper Payne at fullback if the Blues players are deemed unfit to play, Ferris said.
What is missing in experience in this youthful Northland side, is made up for in enthusiasm, and determination to keep improving. One area the team were keen to reform was their set piece.
"It's a work in progress. It's an area of the game the team are motivated to do well in. This group of players are committed to performing better this year and to a high standard," he said.
Also joining the team this week, was new recruit, 23-year-old tighthead prop Jamie Corsi from Wales. Corsi represented his nation in age group rugby before signing with the Llanelli Scarlets and then the London Wasps. Corsi will will start tomorrow's game on the bench. Ferris said the prop was brought in for his effective scrummaging, giving the forwards a bit more depth.
The nerves ahead of the first competition proper match for the season were not restricted to players only.
Both Ferris and Witcombe are in the midst of their first year of coaching Northland and were feeling a little nervous - but more excited than anything - ahead of the opening round.
Ferris said the pair had welcomed advice and mentoring from last year's Northland coach and 2011 Blues assistant coach Bryce Woodward recently.
"He has been fantastic in the last couple of weeks. He doesn't come to training but we talk to him after training and chew the fat basically. At training yesterday things didn't go so smoothly and I was a bit on edge, but that's the beauty of having someone like Bryce giving you advice. He just reminded me things were in place, sometimes things are not perfect at training but the work has been done, it's up to the boys to put it into practice at the weekend."
Northland: 1 Matt Wallis, 2 Ross Wright, 3 Scott Vessey, 4 Marty Veale, 5 Bryce Williams, 6 Dan Faleafa, 7 Joel McKenty, 8 Cam Eyre, 9 Rhyan Caine, 10 Ash Moeke, 11 Bryce Heem, 12 Aaron Bancroft, 13 Rene Ranger (Warren Dunn), 14 Lachie Munro, 15 Jared Payne (C) (Jack McPhee). Reserves: 16 Tim Dow, 17 Justin Davies, 18 Mark Burman, 19 Dan Pryor (Cam Goodhue), 20 Wayne Ngaluafe, 21 Derek Carpenter, 22 Jack McPhee, 23 Jamie Corsi.
Tasman: 1 Sam Prattley, 2 Francis Smith, 3 Fai Mika, 4 Riki Hoeata, 5 Joe Wheeler, 6 Jonathan Poff, 7 Shane Christie, 8 Mark Bright, 9 Steve Alfeld, 10 James Marshall, 11 Willie McGoon, 12 Andrew Goodman (C), 13 Kieron Fonotia, 14 Lucky Mulipola, 15 Robbie Malneek. Reserves: 16 Quentin MacDonald, 17 Craig Moore, 18 Pablo Huete, 19 Liam Squire, 20 Shawn Begg, 21 James Proctor, 22 Mitchell Scott, 23 James Hadfield.