Another agonising defeat
The effects of the Manawatu¯ Turbos slipping into neutral gear against Hawke’s Bay at Napier on Friday and then into reverse for the final hour could have farreaching consequences on the back of the 45-17 smothering.
After two wins from nine, it could be a sort of triple jeopardy, the forwards especially putting their own future contracts in peril, jeopardising the livelihoods of coaches Jeremy Cotter and Aaron Good and the union proprietors also under the blowtorch.
Where Hawke’s Bay had brought in Auckland B players, Manawatu¯ ’s policy of promoting from club rugby and keeping tight purse strings might now be too naive with more than half of the squad lacking NPC sting and depth.
The Turbos may have lost so much heart they could conk out against beleaguered Southland next Sunday.
This week the board conducts a two-day review of the Turbos by a private investigation firm with key personnel to be interrogated, a heavy distraction before a game.
Cotter won’t be ducking anything and he knows when the vultures are circling, especially the vitriolic haters online, the coach is the obvious target.
‘‘If they highlight the coach as the problem, I’ll be the first to put my hand up,’’ he said.
‘‘I welcome any feedback. It is very disappointing and I understand when things are not going so flash the coach comes under pressure.’’
He has remained positive throughout a nightmarish campaign and Hawke’s Bay folk on Friday praised him for how he had developed their lock Tom Parsons.
‘‘We’re back next week and determined to finish on a good note,’’ Cotter said.
‘‘I¨ don’t want excuses, but we have got to face up to some realities.
‘‘I thought the team was quietly confident and would come up and play well.’’
They had lost lineout supremacist Tom Hughes to injury and Nick Crosswell, whose wife had a baby son.
Those green optimists who trekked from Palmerston North were embarrassed by the meltdown, by conceding seven tries in 45 straight points. Most had expected a loss because Napier has been a Manawatu¯ graveyard since 1955.
A year ago the loss to the Magpies was by only 36-31, the most painful of the season after the Turbos had also led 17-0.
And yet this time there was only one side in it when the Turbos got to 17-0 up on the back of their most efficient 20 minutes of the season.
The turning point came bang on the 21st minute when Aucklander Pasqualle Dunn scored the softest try when a box kick was run back, Te Rangatira Waitokia baled out and Brice Henderson was bumped off.
From then on the Turbos capitulated as if their season was already shot, allowing tiny 19-year-old first-five Lincoln Mcclutchie to dictate with crosskicks.
Penalties led to maul tries, there was a crazy dash off a penalty, Bay scrum heat on a shuddering front row and the first lost lineout gifted another try.
The cleanouts and defence were frail, tap kicks were taken instead of scrums, indiscipline piled up and the second-half lineout fizzled out as it had in the early season.
Manawatu¯ had keeled over in
‘‘If they highlight the coach as the problem, I’ll be the first to put my hand up.’’ Manawatu¯ Turbos coach Jeremy Cotter
like manner against Otago, as if suddenly deoxygenated, conceding 40 points or more for the fifth time this year, the jersey demeaned yet again.
Most blame must rest with the forwards because the Turbos fielded a hot backline who were rendered redundant.
They stayed overnight in Napier afterwards, when a quick trip home was in order. And yet music rather than the sound of silence boomed from the changing room afterwards.
All Black Ngani Laumape touched the ball once in the first half, and the pass was to Manawatu¯ ’s best, Rob Thompson. Partly positively, hopefully, Laumape might be joined by fellow All Blacks Nehe Milnerskudder and Jackson Hemopo against Southland.