Hoeft eyes his shield of dreams
It’s not just for sentimental reasons that Carl Hoeft will be cheering on his old team next weekend, Aaron Goile writes.
Carl Hoeft has some good luck messages to send.
He might now be the Waikato forwards coach, but the former All Blacks prop will soon be sending well wishes the way of his former province Otago. There is a vested interest here. After Hawke’s Bay won the Ranfurly Shield off Counties Manukau last weekend, Otago get the first challenge next Sunday. If they are successful, Waikato would be the next challenger.
And while Hoeft said the Mooloo men had to worry about their coming performances and not a potential crack at the log o’wood on September 21, they are well aware of the scenario.
Hoeft is set to get in touch with Otago scrum coach Kees Meeuws, who he packed down with on so many occasions.
‘‘Him and I chat a bit on the phone,’’ Hoeft said. ‘‘We’re really good mates.’’
Otago coach Tony Brown is also a long-time former team-mate of Hoeft’s, while assistant coach Phil Young was a forwards coach there during Hoeft’s playing days.
Then balancing that is the fact that Hawke’s Bay co-coach Danny Lee is another former team-mate of Hoeft’s and also a close friend.
‘‘I suppose it’s just the way rugby is, a lot of ex-players get into coaching and you’ve always got those relationships you’ve had during your playing days.
‘‘I’ll get hold of Kees and wish him all the best. But I’ll do the same to Danny to be honest,’’ said Hoeft, who admitted the latter message will not be as long.
‘‘No, exactly, it might just be a quick text,’’ he said with a chuckle.
Shield banter aside, Hoeft is a happy man after seeing a fine turnaround in fortunes by his big men. Waikato banked a much-needed win over North Harbour last Saturday, led by a grunty effort of tough stuff by the pack.
Hoeft admitted there was some relief in the camp, following poor performances against Canterbury and
Waikato forwards coach Carl Hoeft is wishing his former province Otago well so the Mooloos can get a crack at the Ranfurly Shield. Taranaki. ‘‘The boys, they definitely did lift,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s not through a lack of effort, it’s just more through a lack of clarity of their roles.
‘‘We really had to have a good look at what we were doing and our preparation.
‘‘And if you’re not doing your job properly, that’s where you’re having to over-commit to things and you’re short somewhere else.’’
Hoeft said playing to the game plan was also key, and noted the character shown, particularly when down to 14 men.
‘‘There’s a lot of resolve in the team, we never lack for spirit.’’
After opening their season with four games in 15 days, Waikato have a bit more time to get set for their next assignment, against Tasman in Nelson on Friday night.
‘‘We’re under no illusions that we’ve got a lot of work to do and if we don’t prepare well, we can come unstuck,’’ Hoeft said.
‘‘But when we’re on and we do things right we can push any team. And we’ve showed glimpses all year, it’s just about getting that sustained performance, and that’s how you progress. We have got a fairly young side but we’re not looking for any excuses, we just want to get better as a team, and we want to put some performances out on the park that we can all be proud of.’’
Tasman, who last year won promotion to the premiership, are unbeaten, coming off a draw with Auckland.
‘‘They’re a really good side, I’d say they’re one of the form sides of this competition,’’ Hoeft said. ‘‘And they’re well coached, with Kieran Keane and Leon MacDonald, and they’ve got a roster that’s been together for a few years now.’’