Southern seek repeat win at Rahotu in semi
A fortnight ago Southern beat Coastal 17-7 at Rahotu.
It was by no means a convincing or dominant premier club rugby win, the victory only sealed with a last-gasp intercept try.
However, the win was significant on a number of fronts for Southern coach Jason Skipper.
Firstly, it broke a four-year, seven game losing streak the Hawera-based side had endured against their Coastal neighbours. Secondly, it gave them plenty of belief.
‘‘I think it’s pretty significant, to know we can go to Rahotu and win because we hadn’t beaten them since 2013,’’ he said.
Round robin matches and semifinals are very different, though, and Skipper knows the sort of intensity they will be met with.
Despite that, he said the squad was pretty relaxed heading into the sudden death match and, more importantly, were nearly at full strength, the exception being Taranaki rep Trinity SpoonerNeera, who was unavailable.
He believed the key to victory was Southern’s ability to shut down the Coastal pack.
‘‘If we can’t do that we might as well call it quits or raise a white flag,’’ he said.
The semifinal will be special for one player in particular, with former Wanganui lock Jon Smyth playing his 100th match for Southern.
Coastal might have lost the last meeting between the two sides but coach Aaron Fisher was more than pleased with the response he got out of the players last week when they proved too good for fellow top four side Spotswood United, winning 24-5.
They have also been equally the most consistent team in the competition and should gain an advantage by playing at home.
The other semifinal has defending champions Tukapa hosting Spotswood United at Sanders Park.
While Tukapa have enjoyed a winning double over them this season, co-coach Tim Stuck was expecting a massive challenge ahead.
‘‘They’ve got a formidable pack who will pose us a lot of problems,’’ he said.
That pack has been bolstered by the availability of Hurricanes loose forward Toa Halafihi while Super Rugby takes a break while they also have the luxury of playing Taranaki prop Asa Sorovaki off the bench.
Despite that, Tukapa’s pack remains capable of matching them, especially in the loose where Shem Setu, Adrian Wyrill and captain Mitchell Crosswell will be key to them being able to implement their game plan.
Stuck has opted to play former Taranaki rep Jack Cameron at first five-eighth, despite Jayson Potroz operating there for most of the season.
He said it was simply a case of them getting all of their best players on the field and Potroz, who will start at fullback, would still be able to operate at first receiver at times.
While Spotswood United will be sure to try and make some heady inroads through and around the pack, they will also be mindful of creating some space for the likes of former Chiefs wing Latu Vaeno, something they failed to do the last time the two sides met.