Hawke’s Bay want to go one step further than they did last year – and believe that they can.
The Magpies have ample experience and talent in their squad and will fancy they can make it back into the Premiership. TOBY ROBSON takes up the story.
Vision Statement We want to play a brand of rugby that appeals to the people of Hawke’s Bay. We started to build on the ability last year to be able to play expansive, but also be confrontational, so it’s about getting that mix right. Head coach Craig Philpott
The Big Pict ure
Last year the Magpies excited with their style of play as they won the hearts of the region and the nation by winning the Ranfurly Shield for the first time since 1969. The night they lifted the Shield from Otago in Dunedin was arguably the high point of the provincial year.
However, youthful exuberance, and possibly the huge high that came with the log ‘ o wood, came with inconsistency. They won six matches, but lost four during a roller coaster season that saw them lose the Championship final to Tasman.
Many of the youngsters from last season have now played Super Rugby either in wider training groups or in the competition proper. First five- eighth Ihaia West provides the spark and is sure to want to play an expansive game, but the Bay may be a little more structured in 2014.
The outside backs don’t have quite the same punch and midfielders such as Andrew Horrell and Jason Shoemark and fullback Matt Berquist are all well equipped to play a tactical kicking game.
The pack will be mobile behind dynamic hooker Ash Dixon and has plenty of size through the second row and loose forwards. Reaching the final again this season should be the minimum goal for a squad that is solid throughout.
Rising star
Tony Lamborn. The 22- year- old Havelock club openside isn’t so much knocking on the door to higher honours as bashing it down. Lambourn was Hawke’s Bay’s club rugby player of the year in 2012, but had to sit patiently behind Blues openside Brendan O’Connor during last year’s ITM Cup campaign. Originally from mid-Canterbury, but in the Bay since he was 16, the local builder is tipped for bigger things. Don’t be surprised if O’Connor is used at No 8 and blindside to accommodate Lamborn. Another player to watch for is New Zealand Under 20 lock/ loose forward Geoff Cridge, a Magpie via Christchurch.
Old Dog
Ged Robinson. The hooker is the sort of consistent man up front that ITM Cup sides love to have. He may not necessarily be the starter every week with the Hurricanes dynamic rake Ash Dixon an unrealised talent, but Robinson is sure to play a huge part in the Magpies campaign as the pair share time. Robinson hasn’t let a side he’s played for down from his days in Wellington, to the Melbourne Rebels and back to the Highlanders during this year’s Super Rugby season. A smart player and a great team man to boot.
New Arrivals
The familiar old faces of Berquist and Shoemark will don the black and white hoops again after stints in Italy and England respectively. Berquist is back to add to his 42 matches between 2006 and 2009 during which time he was a prolific points scorer. He also had stints with the Highlanders and Crusaders, but all of that was largely at first five- eighth.
This time around Berquist will be asked to provide a steady head and a big boot from fullback. He’s still only 31. Shoemark, 33, and a one time Highlander and Blues Super Rugby player, will shore up the midfield as he looks to add to his 54 caps from 2006 to 2010. The arrival of Highlanders blindside Gareth Evans is also a boost. The outside backs will still have form Highlander Richard Buckman, but don’t have quite the same punch as previous seasons with Zac Guildford in France, Telusa Veainu in Melbourne and Gillies Kaka pitching his tent in the New Zealand sevens camp, and Israel Dagg unlikely to be sighted. Up front, they have been bolstered by the signing of 33 test Canadian tighthead Jason Marshall.