Stags coach calls for patience

Breaking his Stags from club rugby mentality and polishing them into a higher level of playing will take time for coach Dave Hewett.

Hewett, at training yesterday, said a frustrating run of defeats had not dulled the team spirit.

He added playing against Super 15 players and former All Blacks was a challenge for some of the Stags who were in their first or second year of Mitre 10 Cup rugby.

‘‘It’s a big step up from club rugby and we don’t have super players.

‘‘The boys are frustrated rather than disappointed . . . they want to get [winning] results.’’

Southland have had five losses this year but in all games they had periods of good play.

‘‘We’re developing local boys and we need to be patient . . . it was always going to take time.’’

As well as upskilling players in training, they were regularly given advice on strength and conditioning, mental skills and nutrition.

The players’ focus to succeed is as strong as ever heading into tomorrow night’s game against Northland in Whangarei. Twelve months ago Northland beat Southland 44-13 at Rugby Park in Invercargill.

Northland’s five games this year have produced two wins and three losses. Their confidence will be up after downing Manawatu¯ 49-19 in Whangarei last Friday night.

‘‘It’s going to be a tough gig . . . Northland at home are always tough,’’ Hewett said.

The TAB has listed Northland at $1.06 and Southland at $8 in head-tohead betting on the game which kicks off at 7.35pm tomorrow.

Earlier in the day, injured Stags player Brayden Mitchell will undergo a neck operation.

Mitchell injured nerves in his neck during a club game in May. The problem has caused numbness in his fingers and occasional pain in a foot and arm.

Stags team to play Northland: Shaun Stodart, Flynn Thomas, Morgan Mitchell, Ben Fotheringham, Manaaki Selby-Rickit, Jack Capil, Tony Lamborn, Bill Fukofuka, Jay Renton, Broc Hooper, Rory van Vugt, James Wilson, Matthew Johnson, Isaac Te Tamaki and Tauasosi Tuimavave. Reserves: Jesse MacDonald, Ethan de Groot, Christopher Apoua, Raymond Tatafu, Brenton Howden, Nicolas Costa, Raymond Nu’u and Jackson Ormond.

‘‘The boys are frustrated rather than disappointed . . . they want to get [winning] results.’’ Dave Hewett

ROBYN EDIE/STUFF Southland Stags Lewis Ormond, left, Jackson Ormond and Tony Lamborn at a training session at Surrey Park, Invercargill, yesterday. Injured Stags player Brayden Mitchell mixes with his team-mates at training yesterday. Mitchell will undergo a neck operation tomorrow.