Rugby: Complacency fear from Pirates coach

Denning Tyrell will want to lead Pirates from the front against Ratana inside the Pa tomorrow. Photo/File

WHAT is life without challenge? For Integrity Motors Pirates coach Phillip Morris, it is the need to keep his charges motivated so they won't slip in their quest to finally claim the Tasman Tanning Premier title.

After a well-timed bye week to get over niggling injuries, which occurred the same weekend Waverley Harvesting Border upset competition leaders McCarthy's Ruapehu, Pirates now have an enticing run of home fixtures on Spriggens Park if they can get past the unpredictable Harvey Round Motors Ratana inside the Pa tomorrow.

As the game with fellow tenants Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist is always on Spriggens Park, it is possible Pirates could play six straight weeks on home turf, all the way to the August 2 final, if they can replicate last year's late season burst.

"That can work in your favour or vice versa," said Morris of being domiciled at Spriggens.

"There's nothing wrong with getting on a bus and going to a Border or a Taihape, and getting up for those games, as we proved in the semifinal [in Waverley] last year.

"There is a risk [at home] you can slip up."

Pivitol team men like first-five Denning Tyrell are back to 100 per cent, with the only key players missing are Lee Ashford (ham string) and Lasa Ulukuta (broken thumb), with Ulukuta expected back in a fortnight.

While Ratana have dropped off the semifinal pace following three straight defeats to Ruapehu, Marist and Taihape, while Pirates dominated them 41-0 in Round 1, Morris knows his team can beat themselves.

A notable drop in intensity during the loss to Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau and the near-run finishes with Utiku Old Boys and Speirs Food Marton show that.

Morris can also draw back on his own experiences coaching Kaierau where after two dominant seasons, it proved too much to get up for a third year as complacency set in.

"Every game counts now and it's pay day for all the hard yakka in preseason," he said.

"Inconsistency's been our achilles heel no trouble getting up for the big ones but the next game we struggle.

"There's never any walkover Ratana sides, we've been battling with them for years.

"The boys like a challenge, and if they can play their rugby, free spirited, it will be good."

In the other big match tomorrow, Border upsetting Ruapehu in Ohakune will no doubt please Taihape, who now have a chance to reclaim the Grand Hotel Challenge Shield they surrendered to the Taranaki team after only a week's tenure back in April.

The match saw Taihape make key errors that led to a 22-3 deficit and prompted stern words from coach Kerry Whale, before they came back to a narrow 34-31 defeat.

Marton, remembering a 20-14 loss in Ohakune, will be looking to put in another big effort when they host Ruapehu, while Kaierau face Utiku Old Boys at the Country Club.