Turbos close to full strength
Statuesque stunt stirs the troops
The Heiden Bedwell-curtis era gets underway this weekend.
Bedwell-curtis will start at No 8 for the Manawatu Turbos against Wellington at CET Arena on Sunday and he will become the new official captain now former skipper Callum Gibbins is on his way to Scotland.
Bedwell-curtis will play his first game for Manawatu this year, having been with the Super Rugby-winning Crusaders, but he was feeling fresh and ready to go.
The Turbos are close to full strength for the match, missing only midfielder Hamish Northcott, prop Mike Alaalatoa (Super Rugby break) and midfielder Ngani Laumape, on All Blacks duty.
Alongside Bedwell-curtis in the loose forwards is openside flanker Antonio Kiri Kiri, who is also the vice captain, and returning veteran Nick Crosswell will start at blindside.
As part of a New Zealand Rugby stunt to boost the rivalry between unions ahead of the national provincial championship starting this weekend, raiders from Wellington appeared in Palmerston North in the dead of Monday night and, like Operation Market Garden, struck behind enemy lines.
They draped poor old Charles Monro, the man who brought rugby to New Zealand, in a Wellington jersey, a lion mask and yellow-andblack cloth.
It should stir up some feeling for the Manawatu Turbos when they clash with the old foe Wellington at CET Arena on Sunday.
Turbos captain Heiden Bedwellcurtis and prop Fraser Armstrong were on hand yesterday to remove the offending material.
There was no steam coming from the ears or flared nostrils, but you can bet come Sunday the Turbos will be motivated to beat Wellington.
‘‘It’s something different,’’ Bedwell-curtis said. ‘‘It’s just showing the strong rivalry of the two unions, the two provinces.’’
Neighbours Wellington, Hawke’s Bay and Taranaki are the teams that ignite fire in the Turbos’ bellies most, but knocking off big brother Wellington always rates the most.
This stunt may not have as much impact as when Manawatu fans hung dead magpies from farm fences as they did during the Ranfurly Shield era of the 1970s for the Hawke’s Bay bus to drive past.
‘‘Hopefully it gets the community inspired and revved up as well,’’ Bedwell-curtis said.
Provincial rivalry is the theme of this year’s competition and New Zealand Rugby may have some more pranks planned this season.
Two years ago cheeky billboards were erected in provincial centres, trying to spark some heat between neighbouring provinces. An amberand-black striped board erected in Taranaki read: ‘‘Manawatu, you think you’ve got a chance in the Premiership? Give me a bucket.’’