Rugby: Week 10 ITM Cup preview

Can Taranaki beat table leaders Southland on Saturday night? Photo / Getty Images

LIVE SCORING: Wellington v Bay of Plenty, 7.35pm

Taranaki rugby coach Colin Cooper would like nothing more than to have a quiet word with his players on Saturday night.

Win or lose, that would signal he was content with their performance against national provincial championship leaders Southland at New Plymouth.

The former Hurricanes Super 14 mentor is not one to rant and rave but he did admit raising his voice after his team's 24-32 loss to Hawke's Bay last weekend, their third defeat of the season leaving them in fourth place on a congested table after nine rounds.

Taranaki were seemingly bogged down in quicksand for the opening quarter at Napier as Hawke's Bay streaked away to a 25-0 lead after as many minutes. They were not switched on mentally and made far too many defensive mistakes for Cooper's liking. He let them know that, too.

"There was some poor tackling technique. To turn on a poor performance for 25 minutes was disappointing and you have to let the team know where you sit with all that. As coaches, we did not sit comfortably at halftime and we did not sit comfortably with it in the review either.

"We certainly got a kick in the pants in those 25 minutes.

"I think it was the mental part of the game. Team 14 can beat one in this competition and for me it's all about mental attitude and how you ready yourself for the game."

Cooper knows Taranaki must be on their game, both physically and mentally, against a Southland side who have turned pragmatism into an art form as their stonewall defence has conceded just 12 tries in nine outings, including none in their last two, 7-6 and 9-6 arm wrestles over Waikato and Auckland respectively.

With skipper Jamie Mackintosh leading the way and hooker Jason Rutledge in the form of his life, the Southland forwards present a tough physical challenge and their will to win has been sharpened considerably by their reign with the Ranfurly Shield.

"They have been tremendous in their defence and that comes from an attitude and an environment so a lot of credit has to be given to the two coaches (Simon Culhane and Dave Henderson) for creating that environment," Cooper said.

"It's all about digging in together and working hard. As a coach that is all that you want from a group."

He admitted Taranaki had been inconsistent in that area, their shortcomings against Hawke's Bay not being apparent a week earlier when they outplayed defending champions Canterbury thanks in no small part to a determined defence.

With four rounds remaining before the top four playoffs, the pressure continues to rise on those with semifinals ambitions.

Just three points separate third-placed Auckland from eighth-placed Counties-Manukau while Northland remain in the reckoning four points behind Counties-Manukau.

Taranaki appear to have a favourable draw, with the home fixture against Southland followed by another against Manawatu ahead of away games against Wellington and North Harbour.

Cooper made it clear a top seven placing - and with it a place in next year's premiership - remained the primary goal.

"We are working hard to make the top seven first and then try and make the semis from there if we're good enough. The top seven has to be the first consideration."

He is without fullback Kurt Baker and flanker Ben Souness, who are on duty with the national sevens squad, but has no injuries to report from the bruising loss to Hawke's Bay.

With the likes of Tyson Keats, David Smith, George Pisi and Jayden Hayward, Taranaki should have the edge in the backs but they will be reliant on the forwards at least gaining parity in the pursuit of possession to give them the chance to showcase their attacking wares.

"We are up there with the top group when it comes to scoring tries so that shows our attack is going well. We just have to stop their attack," said Cooper, who expected Southland to target the first channel between the set piece and first five-eighth Willie Ripia.

"Hawke's Bay went hard in there and Southland will do the same."

Elsewhere, the logjam for top-seven status may thin a touch after this weekend when Northland host sixth-placed Waikato at Whangarei, and Counties-Manukau have the chance to advance their cause against a faltering North Harbour at Pukekohe.

Second-placed Canterbury can be expected to maintain the pressure on Southland by picking up maximum points against Otago in Dunedin while Auckland will have All Blacks wing Joe Rokocoko back in service off the reserves bench after a brief rest period following the international season when they host Hawke's Bay tomorrow night.

Fifth-placed Wellington are still without their All Blacks contingent when they play seventh-placed Bay of Plenty in the capital tonight.

ITM Cup week 10

Tonight:
Wellington v Bay of Plenty, 7.35pm

Friday:
Auckland v Hawke's Bay, 7.35pm

Saturday:
Northland v Waikato, 2.35pm
Otago v Canterbury, 5.35pm
Taranaki v Southland, 7.35pm

Sunday:
Manawatu v Tasman, 2.35pm
Counties Manukau v North Harbour, 4.35pm

- NZPA