HARD LESSONS: Josiah Bogileka and many of Marist's young players have had tough games against Pirates as they were learning their craft in Premier rugby.PHOTO/FILE
RIVALRIES will be renewed when the opening round of the Tasman Tanning Premier kicks off in town and country tomorrow, even if some of the leading players in those battles are taking their leave.
Last year's semifinal between Waverley Harvesting Border and McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu at Dallison Park, where the South Taranaki team had their first win at home over the visitors since their 2011 return to the competition, was one of 2015's most emotional games.
Tomorrow however, with Ruapehu now bringing the Grand Hotel Challenge Shield with them, is more an exercise in observing if Border have retained enough of their core group to reach consecutive finals come July, and if Ruapehu are in a season of renewal or decline.
With Chris Winter no longer coach, the helm for Ruapehu has been somewhat reluctantly taken over by the veteran players brain trust headed by Andrew Evans, with Peter Rowe and George Williams.
"I stayed away as long as I could but there was no one else," Evans said. "Pete's out injured at the moment and so is Roman [Tuataha] " appendix removed."
In addition, young first-five Zyon Hekenui has left for Manawatu, while representative midfielder Troy Brown is not likely to start yet.
Evans will be able to call on Heartland, halfback William Short and prop Tawhio Gupwell, for this sole match before they leave for Manawatu and Auckland respectively.
"I'm having a rethink now. Our numbers at training haven't been great," said Evans.
Still, Ruapehu's long-held philosophy of training their premier and senior squads together is likely to help with at least 5-7 of last year's senior championship winning team now ready to step up to the big time.
And like Winter before him, Evans will not look too far ahead for what this will all mean at finals time " it will be 'one game at a time'.
"Our cliche from the last five years " that won't change " from the years we won it. We are still collectively working as a group, I think you'll see a few guys play the Bs and then coming up."
Past their peak or not, Ruapehu can still play that grinding, spoiling style which brings opposition back to parity and Border coach Ross Williams is expecting nothing less at Waverley.
"You hear these rumours about Ruapehu, but they are a dangerous side and they have a way they play the game.
"You have two teams that have gone at it a bit lately so it's a great start. I hope people come out and watch it."
Border have had their own depatures as last season's leading tryscorer Poasa Waqanibau obviously caught scouts' eyes during Steelform Wanganui's victories over the South Island teams in the Heartland Championship.
The young Fijian was snapped up by the Canterbury union's academy and has played for the Crusader Knights development team and could possibly make his Mitre 10 Cup debut this winter.
In addition, prop Kamipeli Latu is in England and, in a big blow, No8 and midfielder Renato Tikoilosomone broke his arm playing a social game in Dubai.
"He broke his arm two days before he was supposed to fly out," said Williams.
"We had a chat to him. Eight to 10 weeks, probably not worth it [to return]."
NZ Heartland player of the year Lindsay Horrocks is attending a wedding tomorrow, so unfortunately there will be no final chapter to the rivalry at halfback with Short.
Jack Lupton also is away, but the reliable James Forsythe will cover the No10 jumper, while in the forwards the other representative players - Cole Baldwin, Kieran Hussey and Sam Madams, if he's back from hunting - will all play.
The other potential standout is new import Kavenui Dabenaise, cover centre or wing, although Williams said the young man brings a very different style to Waqanibau " being more evasive than running over tacklers.
Back at Spriggens Park, the defending champions Integrity Motors Pirates enter the derby game with a Dave Hoskin Carriers Marist team wanting to lift themselves back up from the Premier basement on the shoulders of returning veteran first five Steelie Koro.
Having left the in-recess Tech, Koro has immediately taken control of the Marist backline and has been "a godsend" for coach Jason Hamlin.
"He's been invaluable really, it's like having a coach on the field. He's leading the team for training. He makes the players around him better."
Hamlin only has one back reserve currently for tomorrow, with both wingers Simon Dibben and Cameron Crowley, another player making a proper Premier comeback after two seasons, likely to be unavailable.
"It will be nice if it's [Crowley] this weekend, but in all likelihood it's later in the season," said Hamlin.
He was also lost outside back Shayden Phillips to the new Wanganui Metro team in the Manawatu competition, while fullback Grayson Tihema is not playing rugby.
Lock Daniel Fitzgerald has left for Hamilton, but prop Viki Tofa has committed to a full club campaign and will be sorely needed up front.
"We're hoping the forward pack will be competitive " hoping," said Hamlin.
Nonetheless, he remains a subscriber to the theory of blooding youth to reap the rewards down the road.
While having been on the end of some fearful hidings in the past three seasons, recent teenagers like centre Josiah Bogileka, second-five Sam Monaghan and Rory Gudsell have both time and experience on their side and this year they could begin to make their mark.
In the other games, Wanganui Car Centre Kaierau host PGG Wrightsons/Ballance Taihape at the Country Club, while Utiku Old Boys host Harvey Round Motors Ratana at Memorial Park, all kickoffs 2.35pm.