Rapid change but expectation remains the same
It is only three seasons since Taranaki’s rugby supporters were climbing the goal posts at Yarrow Stadium to celebrate a national title yet the make up of the 2017 squad highlights the changing nature of the game.
Of the starting XV against Tasman in 2014, only Charlie Ngatai, Seta Tamanivalu, Marty McKenzie, Mitchell Graham and Angus Ta’avao are still donning amber and black, although none have run on in a club strip since that day.
Waisake Naholo is still around but is part of the travelling All Blacks roadshow, while Codey Rei and Iopu Iopu-Aso are playing in Japan, Rhys Marshall is in Ireland, James Marshall at Gloucester and Chris Smylie headed off to Italy.
And to prove that there is no certainty in the game, James Broadhurst, Riki Hoeata and Berny Hall have hung up their boots due to concussion issues.
Wondering who is in the provincial squad as each season commences, then watching on to see how quickly the coaches can gel the group and pick up a few victories before getting in to full stride leads in to either anticipation or despondency.
Taranaki’s victory against Auckland, always tough at Eden Park, has raised the possibility of something special happening once again.
However, no teams are easy no matter if they are in the premiership or championship, and this week there is a tricky opponent in Bay of Plenty.
A first up loss to Northland, a competitive loss to Wellington, a thumping of Hawke’s Bay and a tough fought victory over Manawatu suggests the Bay will be primed and ready for the Friday night clash.
Key to the evening for Bay of Plenty will be newly appointed New Zealand Maori coach Clayton McMillan. A former Bay centurion as a player, McMillan is now providing the mana, and the direction that Taranaki’s own Colin Cooper has provided for this province.
His standing in the community and among fellow rugby people in the country suggests a future Super Rugby coach is in the making.
Traditionally, Bay of Plenty have produced a rugged and mobile forward pack, backs with plenty of ambition and energy and a team strategy that has long been one of aggression and attack with ball in hand.
They were certainly a team ahead of their time when they won the very first NPC in 1976. Although most teams are now in the same mould, the strategies stay the same for this province and will be reinforced and fine-tuned under McMillan. The battle of the coaches will be a nice little sideline to the main course.
One to watch in the Bay strip will be former Southern player Jesse Parete. A muscular and rangy looseforward, Parete had a stint at league in Australia before heading back to Taranaki where he was unable to secure a spot in the amber and black pack.
Heading to the opposite coast has provided him with more game time, so with plenty to prove it will be interesting to see if he has matured in to the quality of player that many believed he would one day be.
For Taranaki, another performance similar to the opening stanza and the guts and commitment shown after half time in Auckland will be a minimum requirement.
Consistency and intensity for 80 minutes is the goal which will keep the support base excited and wanting more.