Rugby: Steamers target city slickers
The Steamers are reeling after three losses in four games but they are well and truly fired up for a visit from the impressive Auckland side tonight in Rotorua.
Luke Braid, who captained many of the Auckland players at the Blues this year, says knocking over the big city boys is a feeling many of the Bay players have yet to enjoy.
"There is a core of us in this team that has never beaten Auckland and that is our No 1 goal," Braid said. "No doubt about that. Guys that are in the leadership group like Culum Retallick, Tristan [Moran], Phil Burleigh and me have ticked off all the other big guns but not them. There is no shortage of motivation for us to get up over Auckland."
Bay Steamers coach Kevin Schuler will have to sweat on the fitness of two more of his squad after the disappointing loss to Waikato on Tuesday night.
But Steamers fans can expect a more positive approach no matter who plays.
"There are a few sore boys after Waikato," Schuler said.
"Lelia 'Flash' [Masaga] came off with a bit of a sore knee and Carl [Axtens] hurt a medial ligament. It is part and parcel of this comp now, with these short turnarounds, but nothing looked too serious.
"Defence is important but we have to keep playing and trying to attack to score points as well.
"They can't beat you if they can't score, but you can only beat them if you score yourself, so we have to keep a real attacking mindset.
"The key things are to get our bodies and our minds fresh so we have to get back up for the [Auckland] game. It is as much about us getting ourselves ready to get back on the paddock."
Schuler has named the same starting lineup which lost 15-6 to Waikato in Hamilton.
The coach will be looking for better option-taking from his first-five Nick McCashin who has been running hot and cold this season.
Despite getting relatively good set-phase ball against the Mooloos, McCashin struggled to get his backline firing.
The Steamers are still persisting with the crash and bash through the midfield and not using one of the most dangerous attacking backs in the ITM Cup, Masaga.
The one time they did use Masaga in a backline move he broke the line and it was only for a forward pass the move was called back.
Schuler's call to start Josh Hall at halfback worked well and be it for a dubious TMO call, the outcome at Waikato Stadium may have been different.
Auckland coach Wayne Pivac has also named an unchanged starting XV for tonight's match. Kickoff at the Rotorua International Stadium is at 6.05pm.
Steamers squad:
Tristan Moran, Dan Perrin, Josh Hohneck, Culum Retallick, Leon Power, Tanerau Latimer (c), Luke Braid, Carl Axtens, Josh Hall, Nick McCashin, Lance McDonald, Mafi Kefu, Phil Burleigh, Lelia Masaga, Kenny Lynn.
Reserves: John Pareanga, Mike Kainga, Dan Goodwin, Jesse Acton, Lewis Hancock, Simon Rolleston, Jack Wilson.
Auckland squad:
Pauliasi Manu, Tom McCartney, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Sean Brookman, Liaki Moli, Steven Luatua, Sean Polwart, Peter Saili, Alby Mathewson, Gareth Anscombe, George Moala, Hadleigh Parkes (c), Malakai, Fekitoa, Ben Lam, Charles Piutau. Reserves: Nathan Vella, Angus Ta'avao, Nathan Hughes, Joe Edwards, Auvasa Faleali'i, Tony Fenner, Dave Thomas.
