Underdogs prepare to bite

By CHRIS RATTUE


The boys love this sort of stuff," says Bay of Plenty manager Craig Morris, waving a piece of paper in his office underneath the Mt Maunganui stadium grandstand.

It's the TAB odds, which reflect the outsiders' view of the NPC rugby darlings. They're cute, but when it comes to the crunch they ain't going to win.

The TAB has rated the Steamers at $2.90 to beat North Harbour tomorrow. This despite the in-form Bay having beaten Auckland, Otago, Waikato and Wellington, and winning at Albany pre-season.

The rest of us might take some convincing. But the Steamers have taken their stellar season in stride as if to say, "We knew we belonged here all along", even though the doubters provide them with a nice gee-up.

This could be the Bay's biggest moment for decades - even bigger than winning the Ranfurly Shield, because real sporting tests are over the long haul.

If Bay of Plenty knock over North Harbour and thus make the NPC semifinals, it will cap a fairytale turnaround for a team which were division-one cannon fodder two years ago.

Morris, who also owns a pub, has proclaimed on his voice-mail from day one that the Steamers would "kick some butt" in 2004.

A rare feisty message in a staid rugby land. And you are unlikely to find another first-division manager with the same description of his job.

"There should be the letters FE after my name, because I do ******* Everything," announces Morris, a former Marlborough club player and top tennis junior, who tried his luck as a tennis pro around Hollywood in the 1980s with clients including actress Vanessa Redgrave.

Bay of Plenty rugby is still small enough to have a bloke who does FE, yet thinks big enough to believe they can win FE.

Last year they went close to the semis - now they control their own destiny into the final round.

The Bay won the first NPC title in 1976 and nearly popped champagne corks in 1996 when they came oh-so-close to winning the shield in Auckland.

Their former All Black forward Gary Braid - a brewery rep - had put bubbly in the Eden Park dressing room with 10 minutes left as the shield appeared headed to the Bay. Unfortunately, their bubble was burst.

This year Morris waited until the final whistle at Eden Park before ordering anything wet. And wet the whistle they did, like the old days. And again, after Waikato were sent packing.

There is no substitute for talented, dedicated players and coaches but Bay of Plenty have another ingredient - old-fashioned spirit and habits.

About eight of them have other jobs, from carpenter wings Anthony Tahana and Apoua Stewart to real-estate man Adrian Cashmore.

On Wednesday, the large frames of James Afoa and Ben Castle were at coach Vern Cotter's farm to help with sheep docking, with speedy lamb-catcher Charles Baxter.

"Charlie is upset because a few lambs sidestepped him," says Cotter as he prepares to run the forwards' training session.

Cotter, a former Counties forward, returned four years ago from 10 years of playing and coaching in France. He is a much-liked character, with a friendly and genuine air.

"He played a few club games when he came back but had to give up. The refs couldn't handle his chat any more - he gets grumpy," quips Morris.

Cotter told his first Bay of Plenty development team in 2001 that anyone in the game with money-making dreams could take a hike. The NPC players still get this message.

Cotter's credo: Having a mate say you did the jersey proud means more than the pay cheque.


One team rule is that a player entering the changing rooms shakes the hand of everyone present. Respect is the key.

Enter Paul Tupai, the rough-diamond, 100-game forward, who says that "blue and gold runs in my blood".

Tupai was there in 1996, when - drained by the shield disaster - the Bay missed the second-division semifinals.

Back then, he got $20 petrol vouchers, a T-shirt and a polo shirt for his efforts. Dark days, I prompt.

"There were no dark days," says Tupai with a wild grin. "There wasn't any money about. We had a great time, won a second-division championship.

"This has been a dream, unbelievable, holding one of the great trophies. But I always knew we could get here. Seriously. We had good structures. The young fellas have got something to stay for. The Bay has come a long way."

Tupai is a warehouse manager in Rotorua, two full days and three half-days a week.

"A wife, two kids. A mortgage. Anyway, I like working. I've got great mates there, and it gets you away from rugby," he says.

Tupai and fellow veteran Damon Kaui are the back-seat committee who set the tone. Blue and gold blood, even in an age where gold rules.

Tupai, who has played for the Bay since the under-10s, will sign up for one more season, which includes a match against the Lions. Tupai deserves his game against the Lions, and a tilt at the NPC.

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