I have no complaints about tired-looking forwards this week. The Bay forwards were much more physical than the Tasman eight and were still going at full intensity at the end of the game, it was great to see. Even the line-out recovered from another disastrous start (losing 5 in a row on our own throw) to become almost serviceable by the end of the game. Ngarimu Simpkins had a stormer of a game in the loose, as did Solomon King who is a handful for defences when he gets up a head of steam.

Our goalkicking problem was also improved by using the prodigious all-round talents of Mr. Colin Bourke. It was inevitable given that he already plays as both a forward and a back. Given the success of the goalkicking experiment, I propose that Bourke throws into the lineout, whilst also being our main lineout target. He can double as the team doctor during breaks in play, provide the catering for the after-match and fill in for any absent cheerleaders.

We scored 4 beautiful tries in the game, 3 of them featuring the finishing talents of Lance MacDonald who is rapidly making a name for himself at full-back. His first showed his sidestep and his pace while his second and third were created by the vision and speed of Delany. My favourite try was Charlie Baxter’s, the change in angle of Bourke’s run creating the gap. With so many backs out injured, it is encouraging to see how creative the backline is.

So with our forwards energised, Nutbrown getting back to his best and the backline starting to hum, can we expect to beat the Naki in New Plymouth? We haven’t played there since 2004 and revenge for that embarrassing drubbing during our Shield reign is long overdue. A win will keep our play-off hopes alive and the showdown with Southland at Blue Chip could well determine the fate of both teams.

Wasn’t it sad to see our good friends over the Kaimais lose the Shield after just one week? We hung onto it for 3 times as long during our last period as Shield holders, although to be fair we did have an easy opponent for our first defence. 

The World Cup starts at the weekend, and the All Blacks are clear favourites despite the strange decision to omit Sir Glen Jackson from the squad. He’ll be selected in 2011 as the captain of the Bay of Plenty, the reigning Air New Zealand Cup champions and Ranfurly Shield holders.