Coach braced for derby day
Well-travelled coach Dave Ellis is in his first year at the helm of Feilding Old Boys-o¯roua, but the significance of derby day against crosspaddock rivals Feilding is not lost on him.
Veteran coach Ellis took the reins this year after being shoulder tapped, guiding the Stags to one loss and two wins, and he is prepared for a tough game this weekend.
The clash is always an important one for the two sides and FOB
roua will be looking to end Feilding’s unbeaten run in today’s clash at Johnston Park.
Fob-o¯roua were depleted to start the season and are only now starting to get guys back and regular numbers at training.
Ellis said they needed to be accurate and execute, but knew Yellows, who beat Old Boys-marist 25-7 last week, would have a point to prove as well.
He said it was the first derby game, but he knew they would meet again in the second round later in the season too.
‘‘I’ve been in this situation before too, so we’ve got to keep out feet on the ground. It’s a long season and we’re still building and trying to figure out combinations.’’
He said they were heading in the right direction, but had to play for 80 minutes, not 60, as they did in their 21-17 win over Kia Toa last week.
Lock Amaru Kapene was given a red card for kicking in their game against Kia Toa, but the judicial hearing was postponed because the judiciary was so busy this week. He won’t play this weekend.
Prop Johnny Shannon, who transferred from Feilding a week ago, will start at lock this weekend due to a lack of men in the second row, while loose forward Dre Sherwill and lock Amon Panikoula are back from injury on the bench.
Originally from Putaruru in Waikato, Ellis has coached overseas for years as a skills coach. He has coached in Australia, Russia, Argentina, Brazil, Japan, America, Italy, Ireland and South Africa.
More recently he worked as an assistant to Pat Lam at Connacht in Ireland from 2013 to 2017, winning the Pro12 in 2016.
He returned to New Zealand to work with the Blues for two years, worked for two months at Bristol in England under Lam and when Covid-19 hit he came back to New Zealand.
Having long worked as a coach for the International Rugby Academy of New Zealand, he has lived in Palmerston North for about 10 years when not overseas.
He is still running online coaching sessions and will hold a one-day course on April 30 for people aged 14-16 in Manawatu¯.
Meanwhile, five players were suspended at the judiciary on Wednesday night after five red cards were issued in the clash between College Old Boys and Freyberg last week.
College Old Boys, who play Old
Boys-marist at the Arena today, will be without three players.
Hooker Cory Purton was banned for three weeks for punching, lock Kodie Albert-papuni was given four weeks for punching and No 8 Hamuera Burn was suspended for two weeks for punching.
Freyberg first five-eighth Kahn Fotuali’i was suspended for five weeks for headbutting and flanker Lawrence Luivaie was banned for two weeks for punching.
Te Kawau will be out to build on their upset win over Varsity last week when they play Freyberg at Colquhoun Park, their first home game of the season.
Varsity will want to get back on track when they host Kia Toa at Massey University.
Eleven Manawatu¯ players have been selected in the Hurricanes under-20 squad to play in the under20 Super Rugby competition, which starts this weekend.
Teams from the five Super Rugby franchises and a New Zealand Barbarians team will play games today, Wednesday and next Saturday in Taupo¯.
Selected were: Joseph Gavigan, Raymond Tuputupu, Feleti Sae Ta’ufo’ou, Chance Malu (Freyberg), TK Howden, Kyle Brown (Feilding), Ben Strang, Julian Goerke (Varsity), Aidan Champion (Old Boys-marist), Matty Oldridge (COB), Tavita Henare-schuster (Kia Toa). Faleseu Tauailoto (FOB
roua) wasn’t selected due to injury.
Former Manawatu¯ schoolboy players Ruben Love (Wellington) and Jonty Stewart (Hawke’s Bay) were also selected.
Elyjah Crosswell (COB) and Bryn Gordon (Ob-marist) were selected in the Barbarians team.
Manawatu¯ Cyclones Carys Dallinger, Kaipo Olsen-baker, Layla Sae and Sarah Hirini are this weekend competing at the Takiwhitu Tu¯turu sevens competition in Wellington.
Draw (2.45pm kickoff): Feilding v Feilding Old Boys-o¯roua, Johnston Park; Freyberg v Te Kawau, Colquhoun; Old Boys-marist v College Old Boys, Arena; Varsity v Kia Toa, Massey University.
Standings: Feilding 15, College OB 15, Varsity 11, Te Kawau 9, Feilding Ob-o¯roua 6, Ob-marist 5, Kia Toa 1, Freyberg 0.