Time for Taranaki boys to roll up their sleeves
While the big boys have been wowing the kids at Yarrow Stadium, eating Robyn Barrett’s scones down on the farm, and preparing for yet another victory against Argentina, the Taranaki crew have surely been rolling their sleeves up and preparing to perform more clinically against Auckland at Eden Park on Saturday.
A finals quality team on paper, bound together by 2014 champs Charlie Ngatai, Seta Tamanivalu, Marty McKenzie, Mitchell Graham, Leighton Price, Sione Lea and Angus Ta’avao, it is hard to imagine that the group are happy with what they have dished up so far in 2017.
A shellacking at the hands of Wellington highlighted many deficiencies, while some individual brilliance and a sprinkling of highlights, eked out wins against Waikato and Counties-Manukau.
As with many teams in these early stages, there has been a mix of good and bad, while poor old Auckland have been mainly bad.
It is hard to imagine that they have ever played so poorly at the beginning of a season. Akira Ione, George Moala, Malakai Fekitoa and Patrick Tuipuloto are quality players who should be sending shivers down the spine. However, with one win from four matches, and apparent confusion all over the park, they are in the process of setting themselves up to miss the semifinals for the second year in a row. Taranaki must now step up a couple of levels. Future performances require a consistency of accuracy and intensity.
In 2014, following a mediocre start, the team went on a seven match winning streak which ultimately provided the confidence to win the National Provincial Championship. This is the 2017 challenge.
The squad could well take their lead from three youngsters who are providing the energy and the impetus.
First-five Stephen Perofeta, already a Blues and New Zealand Under 20 rep, has displayed poise, a mature game understanding and a ton of pace, which hints of him being the ‘real deal’.
In a province that has produced the likes of Ross Brown, Neil Wolfe, Paul Martin and now Beauden Barrett, Perofeta looks to be carrying the mantle in a positive and confident manner. With the likelihood of team improvements inside and outside the pivot, he may well be the key to success.
Not many club players have the opportunity to step in to Mitre 10 Cup these days but Pita-Gus Sowakula, the 110kg loose forward, has arrived via Spotswood United and immediately demonstrated his power, determination and promise in just a couple of outings.
Further development under Colin Cooper could well lead on to bigger and better in terms of teams and finances. The carrot is a biggie.
Hooker Ricky Riccitelli, another recently out of the Francis Douglas stable, has quickly established himself as a leading performer in a pack, where he is nestled between the experienced and valuable Ta’avao and Graham. His positive approach and boundless energy are already a key component in a side that should take a lead from the youngster.
If match winners Ngatai, Tamanivalu and McKenzie begin to perform with consistency, and the pack step up as a whole, then this is a team that should be thinking about winning the Ranfurly Shield and the Mitre 10 Cup premiership.
Saturday will be an indicator of the desire.