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 The last match of the 1st round for all teams. The seventh week of the Air New Zealand Cup and there is no better time for the Hawke's Bay Magpies to record their second 2006 Air NZ Cup win against Southland. Not only to revenge that catastrophic 1994 loss that hurt us so bad for so long, a win will mean they will get a couple of home games in the repechage round.
It was October 15, 1994 – the day when Southland produced one of its most memorable wins in its 119-year history.
Facing a Hawke's Bay team that had demolished everything in its path during the round-robin series of the division two National Provincial Championship competition, Southland came through and won the final to gain promotion to the provincial top flight.
Fast forward 12 years and there's plenty that has passed under New Zealand's rugby bridge since that crap day.
Hawke's Bay's unsuccessful merger with Manawatu, forming the Central Vikings, has been and gone.
The 1994 Southland captain David Henderson and the team's prolific points-scorer Simon Culhane are now co-coaches of the Stags.
The Hawke's Bay centre in 1994, George Konia, is now the assistant coach of the Magpies. Coach Ratcliffe held a technical postition with Hawke's Bay that year.
Danny Lee, who played as an 18-year-old halfback in 1994, has returned to his home province as a 30-year-old, after stints with Counties-Manukau and Otago.
Despite all the comings and goings, today will see the two rivals face off for just the second time in a provincial competition game in Invercargill since 1994.
The TVNZ website is picking Southland to win by 12 and under, while the TAB has Southland firm favourites at 2.10 for a 12 and over win with Hawke's Bay paying $10.00 for a 12 and over win.
Hawkes Bay is well placed to record the all important away victory against a Southland side that was outplayed by Counties last week. Hawke's Bay has learnt to construct tries and importantly are starting to play the game with patience and building their time with the ball in hand. The most worrying aspect of the Hawke's Bay game so far to date is their leaky defence - it is worse than Manawatu's!!! ALthough we must always be wary of theose Southland sides and to make sure we avoid the oysters that day before the match. Hopefullly the weather gods will not turn on a southerly storm. (UPDATE 4.30pm - Looks like it's crap weather - Today's Forecast - 9ºC - Wind: 33 km/hr. WSW - few showers. Cold gusty southwesterlies.) That did us in way back in 1994. Coach Ratcliffe was on the sideline that day as a Water Bottle carrier - so witnessed what was the train wreck of that season's campaign first hand.
If the weather is dicey - I'm sure he would have learnt his lesson all those moons ago about how to play wet weather rugby - because the way Hawkes Bay played that day was a model example of how NOT TO PLAY wet weather rugby. While Southland away from their Rugby Park are usually quite beatable at home in Southland with those local southaldn boguns cheering them on - grow and extra leg, so it will be quite an upset if Hawke's Bay can tip them over. The Lay of the Land
An interesting side, Mutu back in team and on bench. Tafai also back on bench, and after the awesome desplay from Tivaina on the weekend can't see him being knocked off if he has another game like the one against Waikato.
Would have thought Chad might get a start sometime ahead of Lee as both in my book have the same qualities. Hika still not called up is another point to ponder, is Lowe a better option than Hika or is he really lost form.
Clint Newland is still breaking records, but for me is lucky to be holding onto his spot after some dodgy tackling last week.
Raihania, like Clarke, has played his way into the team and is making the number 8 jersey his own at the moment.
After Southlands display last week I would hope the Magpies get stuck in early as they did against Waikato and keep the pressure on. A tough away game, but one I hope Rat's has targeted as a win in our Pool. First five-eighth Blair Stewart is the only backline player to retain the jersey he wore against Counties, while there has also been some carnage amongst the starting pack.
Pehi Te Whare has been moved from the right wing to fullback, replacing Kendrick Lynn, with Willie Rickards swapping from the left to right flank.
Jason Kawau switches from centre to second five-eighth to allow Alesana Muliaina to reclaim the No 13 jersey although there is doubt over Muliaina after he strained a groin muscle yesterday.
Muliaina was the only Southland player to leave Auckland with his reputation enhanced after finding space as a replacement in the second half against Counties.
Watisoni Lotawa is back in the starting team for the first time since the second-round game against Waikato while Phil Dawson moves from second five-eighth to halfback.
In the forwards, Jeff Wright has been bracketed with Dion Bates on the openside and is likely to start to give Bates a rest after a bruising initiation at this level.
Hoani Macdonald's chest injury sees Rees Logan get a start in the second row.
Stags captain Clarke Dermody is back after missing the Counties game with a sternum injury.
He will play in his more usual role on the loosehead side, with Jayden Murch completing his comeback to top level rugby after a broken ankle when he plays on the tighthead side.
David Hall replaces Jason Rutledge at hooker.
There are more brackets on the bench with a decision to be made on whether Ben Coutts or Mackintosh rides the pine, while development squad member Ray Hemi has also been bracketed with Wright.
WALKING WOUNDED:
Southland suffered a huge blow last week when Hoani MacDonald left the field with a chest injury that may take some time to heal. The Stags lose their main lineout man and one of the best all-purpose forwards in their pack as a result. Clarke Dermody returns this week but the side has undergone a major shake-up in the wake of last Sunday's weak effort.
Hawke's Bay doesn't have major injury concerns at present and Brendon Ratcliffe is in the happy position of being able to select on form.
FORM:
Southland was poor last week at Mt Smart and had no respect for the ball, turning it over 27 times. No fewer than 18 of those turnovers came from handling errors, an unacceptable figure at this level. It came as no surprise, then, that the game got away from the Stags after halftime.
Hawke's Bay competed hard against Waikato and was better than the 19-point margin suggested; the game turned when Luke Ottley was sin-binned in what seemed a harsh decision and Waikato scored 15 points while he was off the field. Although Waikato did appear to be getting the upper hand when that happened, the score blowout was not an accurate reflection of a tough match.
WHO'S HOT:
No Southland player would have been satisfied with his performance last week and the Stags will be pleased skipper Dermody has recovered from injury. The backs need to hang onto the ball if they are to achieve anything and get the likes of the dangerous Pehi Te Whare into the game.
Hawke's Bay has a good forward pack and is the most accurate team in the country on its own lineout ball, while Southland's woes in this area continue. Veteran lock Lua Lokotui and new flanker Tivaini Fomai both had top games for Hawke's Bay last week. The Magpie backs are becoming a dangerous unit, with Danny Lee controlling play well and Nathan Mauger a significant midfield force.
WE THINK:
Despite Hawke's Bay's traditional struggles at Invercargill, we're going to stick our necks out and tip the Magpies by 1-12 points. The team has been improving steadily and now seems confident it can play at this level, while Southland has been well below the standard most expected before the season began.
Some People Have Said
Justin Wilson - Magpie 2nd Five
"Yeah it's been three years. I've just had so many injuries ... those freaky ones you can't play through"
reflecting on his first start at his level in three years. Brendon Ratcliffe - Coach of the Magpies.
"They're a strong team right across the park. They're probably one of the most solid teams in the competition. We can't be just happy to compete. We're six weeks into it now, we know what is expected now."
Trying to downplay expectations of the Magpies and claim the underdog status!! David Henderson - Northland Coach
“Very much so, we weren't expected to win that game; they had a pretty good side but we managed to scrap our way to a win in miserable conditions”
Talking about match in 1994.
The Run of the Tape
HAWKE’S BAY v Southland
Sat 9th Sept, 5.30 at Invercargill
Played: 42, 1902–2002
Hawke’s Bay wins: 18
Southland wins: 23
Draws: 1
Last match: Southland 46 - Hawke’s Bay 12, 10.08.02 at Invercargill.
Last Hawke's Bay win: Hawke's Bay 43 - Southland 10, 17.09.94 at Napier (NPC)
Biggest Hawke’s Bay score: 43 (43-10), 17.09.94 at Napier
Biggest Southland score: 51 (51-27), 05.08.01 at Napier
Biggest differential: Southland by 34 (46–12), 10.08.02 at Invercargill - In the last championship match between these two sides, Southland beat Hawke's Bay 23-11 in a 1996 Air New Zealand NPC Division Two semifinal.
 | |  | | Mighty Hawke's Bay Magpies | vs | Southland | | 1. | Clint Newland | | 1. | Clarke Dermody (C)
| | 2. | Danny Logan
| | 2. | David Hall
| | 3. | Tom Symes
| | 3. | Jayden Murch
| | 4. | Byrn Evans
| | 4. | Kane Thompson
| | 5. | Lua Lokotui (c)
| | 5. | Rees Logan
| | 6. | Michael Johnson | | 6. | Hale T-Pole
| | 7. | Tivaini Fomai
| | 7. | Dion Bates/Jeff Wright
| | 8. | Wirihana Raihania
| | 8. | Iona Sipa
| | 9. | Danny Lee
| | 9. | Phil Dawson | | 10. | Aayden Clarke
| | 10. | Blair Stewart
| | 11. | Lote Raikabula | | 11. | Watisoni Lotawa
| | 12. | Justin Wilson
| | 12. | Jason Kawau
| | 13. | Nathan Mauger
| | 13. | Alesana Muliaina
| | 14. | Ryan Glover | | 14. | Willie Rickards
| | 15. | Israel Dagg | | 15. | Pehi Te Whare
| | 16. | Karl Lowe
| | 16. | Jason Rutledge
| | 17. | David Briggs
| | 17. | Ben Coutts/Jamie Mackintosh
| | 18. | Mutu Ngarimu | | 18. | Josh Bekhuis
| | 19. | Tafai Ioasa
| | 19. | Ray Hemi/Jeff Wright
| | 20. | Chad Shepherd | | 20. | Adam Clarke
| | 21. | Matt Berquist | | 21. | James Wilson
| | 22. | Daniel Waenga | | 22. | Kendrick Lynn
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| | | | | Coach | Brendon Ratcliffe
| | Coach | David Henderson | | | George Konia
| | | Simon Culhane | | | | | | | | Referee | Bryce Lawrence
| | | | | TJ's | Southland RRA Ref
| | | | | | Southland RRA Ref | | | | | TMO | Vinny Munroe
| | | |
Next Match
Next week Hawke's Bay have to face ....... well we just don't know yet. All will be sorted out once the final game is played on Sunday.
Mr BMR789's tip
Pizza and Beer are the best combination to watch Rugby with.
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