Tasman looking to reset after loss to Auckland
Tasman coach Leon MacDonald says his team have been taught a valuable lesson ahead of Friday’s game against Taranaki.
The Mako were defeated by Auckland 36-10 at Eden Park on Friday night. Both teams were undefeated going into that clash, but the Alama Ieremia-coached Auckland were outstanding and it was the first setback this season for MacDonald’s team.
‘‘It was a learning opportunity for our boys,’’ MacDonald said.
‘‘This is a difficult competition because as soon as you take someone lightly you’ll get caught out.
‘‘I don’t think we took Auckland lightly at all, but you don’t have to be far off to be made to pay.
‘‘This is a good chance to reflect and think about how we mentally prepare for the game.’’
Auckland are a revitalised team under their new coaching set up of Ieremia, Graham Henry, Filo Tiatia and Tai Lavea and once again look to be a force in provincial rugby.
‘‘It was a tough night for us,’’ MacDonald admitted.
‘‘We got beaten up well and truly around the breakdown area and because of it we couldn’t get our game going.
‘‘We weren’t able to generate any fast ball and that was the end of it really.
‘‘They obviously had a plan to put the ball in behind and we didn’t deal with that well enough.
‘‘We did have enough ball in the end to make a game of it and try to come back, but their defence was outstanding and they showed a lot of tenacity to keep holding us out.
‘‘They were definitely up for the game and thoroughly deserved the win.’’
But Tasman’s chances of winning the Premiership shouldn’t be written off after one loss and MacDonald says they have to move on to their next game against Taranaki.
‘‘Teams get up, look at Waikato’s performance against Wellington,’’ he said.
‘‘Short turnarounds, big games and a lot of these younger guys are learning how to turnaround really quickly.
‘‘It’s not the physical side, it’s the mental side to get back up again.
‘‘I don’t think we got back up well enough after what was a pretty intense battle against North Harbour and I don’t think we were there mentally.
‘‘You only have to be one or two per cent off and we saw [against Auckland] what happens when you are.’’
Tasman will get to play their first game of the season in Nelson on Friday, having started the season with two home fixtures in Blenheim, before away games against North Harbour and Auckland.
‘‘The All Blacks have had our training ground, so it’s nice to get back home and play at Trafalgar Park,’’ MacDonald said.
‘‘There’s a decent surface there and with Taranaki we’ve got a bit of history, so it’s a good chance for us to turn it around.’’
‘‘It was a tough night for us. We got beaten up well and truly around the breakdown area and because of it we couldn’t get our game going.’’
Tasman coach Leon MacDonald after the loss to Auckland