Brothers itching to lock horns in derby NPC
Forsyth Barr Stadium, 7.05pm
THE Bell brothers might finally go head to head — literally.
Talented hookers Henry and George have packed down in the same scrum before, but have never gone up against each other.
They had a season together in the John McGlashan first XV in 2017.
Older brother Henry (23) was a dynamic openside flanker then, and George (20) a ball of energy in the front row.
They came very close to butting heads when Otago hosted Canterbury in a preseason game in July.
But as Henry left the field for Otago, George came on for Canterbury. They walked past each other.
There is a chance that might happen again at Forsyth Barr Stadium tonight.
Henry has been named to start at hooker for the home team, while George is on the bench for Canterbury.
That would be a disappointing outcome for both rakes. They are very keen to renew their rivalry which got ‘‘pretty heated’’ during the backyard cricket games.
They both used that term to describe those fixtures.
Henry had the most to lose. He was three years older and good deal taller (back then).
‘‘You can’t lose those ones,’’ he said.
Funny, that, because Otago might be in a mustwin situation tonight. That depends on the
Otago: Sam Gilbert, Freedom Vahaakolo, Josh Timu, Josh Ioane, Jona Nareki, Cameron Millar, Kemara HauitiParapara, Christian LioWillie, James Lentjes, Oliver Haig, Will Tucker, Fabian Holland, Jermaine Ainsley, Henry Bell, Abraham Pole. Reserves: Brady Robertson, Tau Kolomatangi, Josh Hohneck, Josh Dickson, Sean Withy, Kieran McClea, Ray Nu’u, Mitchell Scott.
Canterbury: Chay Fihaki, Manasa Mataele, Braydon Ennor, Rameka Poihipi, George Bridge, Fergus Burke, Joel lam, Billy Harmon, Tom Christie, Dominic Gardiner, Zach Gallagher, Luke Romano, Oli Jager, Brodie McAlister, Tamaiti Williams. Reserves: George Bell, Finlay Brewis, Seb Calder, Sam Darry, Reed Prinsep, Mitchell Drummond, Dallas McLeod, Ngane Punavai.
outcome of last night’s match between Hawke’s Bay and Tasman.
Otago would have been rooting for Tasman, but regardless of the result of that game there are family bragging rights at stake.
Despite some fiesty historical exchanges, George said there had been no trash talk leading up to the game.
‘‘Definitely in the backyard it would get pretty heated sometimes,’’ George said.
‘‘We played a lot of backyard cricket. We’d come off short runups and just beam it in at each other.’’
‘‘But it will be a pretty special moment [tonight] actually. Not many people get to do it, so I’ll definitely cherish it.’’
Henry was ‘‘really looking forward to that first scrum’’ as well and had started the campaign to win over the family.
‘‘I’m trying to get mum and dad in some blue and gold colours.’’
George had conceded defeat on that front.
‘‘I think they’ll support Otago to be honest. Mum won’t care, she’ll just love both of us. But dad, well, he’ll be with Otago.’’
The Bell brothers and sister Lucy (24) grew up in East Otago. Their parents, Tanya and Johnny, own Shag Valley Station.
The farm has been in the hands of the Bell family since 1863 when Sir Francis Dillon Bell bought the bulk of land which was to form the property.
George moved to Crusader country to study urban valuation at Lincoln University, whereas Henry has recently finished a bacheor of science in agricultural innovation and environmental management at the University of Otago.
While their study put them in different teams, they are on the same path in terms of their rugby career.
They are both mobile, nuggety players with big futures.
George is arguably up one. He scored late in that preseason game to help Canterbury complete a comefrombehind 3431 win.
Henry was off the field, of course.
‘‘I don’t know about that,’’ Henry responded when asked if that was what made the difference.
Canterbury has been the form team in the NPC this season and will start as favourite.
But Otago has won the last two NPC games against its neighbour and Henry said the side had gathered some traction following wins against Manawatu and Waikato.
Whatever happens, mum will still love them. So will dad. He sent the photographs.