Let's give it all we've got, says Taranaki skipper

Paul Tito

Expect a roar from the crowd at New Plymouth's Yarrow Stadium tonight when something red emerges from the players' tunnel as Taranaki take on the Lions.

But it won't be the sportscar red of the Lions' jerseys that lifts most in the crowd, rather the wild ginger locks of Taranaki hard-man Paul Tito as he leads his squad onto the field.

The Taranaki veteran of more than 80 matches, Hurricane stalwart and NZ Maori player follows in the footsteps of others in the amber and black who have attempted to wrench a win from the Lions.

Despite coming close, Taranaki have never bested the Lions.

In 1966, boasting a squad of eight All Blacks, they came within three points, going down 12-9. In 1971, while scoring two tries to the one, they were unable to pull off an upset against one of the strongest Lions teams to ever tour New Zealand.

The final score was 14-9, the best result of any of the unions in that year.

For Tito, who celebrates his 27th birthday tomorrow, the key to a Taranaki victory will be in the forwards.

"Our forward pack has played together for a number of seasons now. We will muscle up against the Lions."

Still sporting stitches above his left eye from the Maori win over Fiji last week, Tito believes the match will be tough and expects the Lions mid-weekers to use the match to push for a place in the test team.

And while Taranaki are focused on grabbing an elusive win, Tito will urge his players to savour the experience in front of an expected 20,000-plus crowd.

"This is a one-off game that our boys have been excited about for more than a year. This will be about 80 minutes of giving it everything you've got and enjoying the night."

Taranaki v Lions

* Wednesday 7.10pm NZT (8.10am BST/IST)
Live on SkySport 1 in NZ, highlights on TV3

- additional reporting: David Leggat