Wellington Pride women's rugby coach Grant Edmonds labels young Eketahuna midfield back Shakira Baker as a potential Black Fern, and sooner than later. Edmonds is not the least surprised the national selectors have already expressed more than passing interest in the 17-year-old Wairarapa College pupil and says a series of goodperformances for the Pride in this year's NPC competition will "very obviously" help her cause. To that extent Baker has made a good start, impressing with her powerful running on attack and the sturdiness of her defence in the 22-5 win over Otago a fortnight ago and the 10-10 draw with powerful Auckland at the Hutt Recreation Ground last weekend. "She still has things to learn but she has the goods, no question of that," Edmonds said of Baker ,who this week has been demonstrating her versatility by playing for Wairarapa College at the Federation Cup national secondary schoolgirls hockey tournament. "The raw talent there is amazing". Baker will be at centre for Wellington Pride when they continue their march towards the NPC semi-finals with a match against Manawatu in Palmerston North on Saturday. She will be one six Eketahuna players in their side, along with Maia Tua-Davidson at fullback, Rebecca Mahoney at first-five, Perri Tatana at lock, Emma Aldworth at No.8 and Michele Clarke, who will start on the reserve bench but will be given game time, probably on the wing. Two other Eketahuna players are in the Manawatu team, utility back Jess Bennett and lock Raylene Reiri. Edmonds accepts his team will go into tomorrow's game as warm favourites after Manawatu suffered hefty losses in their opening two NPC matches but stresses the need for his players to guard against complacency. "If we go there thinking we only have to turn up to win we will be trouble, they (Manawatu) have nothing to lose and you can bet they are going to throw everything, including the kitchen sink, at us", he said.. "Maintaining our structure is the key, if we do that we should be ok".
