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Pride comes before a fall |
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Written by the Humbled Fan in the Stand
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Thursday, 04 September 2008 |
Last week the Fan indulged in a spot of gloating about the relative positions of the Bay of Plenty and Waikato rugby teams. Following the weekend’s results, I would like to apologise for tempting fate in this manner and promise not to do it again. (Unless we make the quarter-finals and they don’t!)
I am not overly depressed about our defeat on Saturday. For periods of the game we competed well, our set pieces were solid and we dominated territory. My main criticism is the slowness of the support for the tackled player and Wellington turned the ball over with regularity and we were punished with a try almost every time. It was a cruel game but a lesson in how sharp we need to be when playing the top sides.
Watching Wellington reminded me of our games against Canterbury in recent years. Both backs and forwards passed out of contact and used the space until we ran out of defenders. Young players like Victor Vito, Serge Lilo and Hosea Gear were very impressive and our loose forward trio was beaten for the first time this season.
Zar Lawrence had a sound game at full back despite the barrage of tries conceded. He does not shirk the tough stuff and has enough gas to break the line regularly. Four tries in five games has been a just reward and the Fan is pencilling him into the Chiefs squad for Mr Foster this week. He should be able to take over the utility position from Dwayne Sweeney.
Otago on Friday night is a must-win game for the Bay if we want to make the top four. Another four points in the bag would almost ensure a top eight finish and to be honest, that was the height of my expectation at the start of the season. Workmanlike is the best way to describe this current Otago side and with a large and loud support, home advantage will give our boys the boost they need.
I remember our last victory against Otago, back in 2004. We had lost the Shield to Canterbury the previous week and it was assumed that the Bay would head downhill for the rest of the season. In fact we whipped Otago and ran in some great tries – I can still picture Adrian Cashmore and Grant McQuoid shredding the Otago defence.
Ruki Tipuna scored a try that day and we may be seeing him again soon now it is confirmed that Jamie Nutbrown is leaving for the Ospreys after the Otago game. We have lost three of our five Super 14 players from last season to the financial muscle of the UK and France. The Fan has conducted an intensive study with these findings.
- A Bay player is selected for Super 14. Soon after they go overseas.
- A Bay player is unfairly left out of Super 14. Soon after they go overseas.
- A Bay player is a consistent and valued provincial player but not quite good enough for Super 14. Soon after they go overseas.
- A Bay player struggles to hold a place in the Bay team. Soon after they go overseas.
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