DYNAMIC DUO: Lasa Ulukuta must disappoint his old West Coast teammates while Wanganui captain Peter Rowe must lead from the front tomorrow at Cooks Gardens.PHOTO/FILE
GOLFING legend Jack Nicklaus was once quoted about big match nerves – “concentration is a fine antidote to anxiety”.
If the mantra holds true, then Steelform Wanganui will hope their entire lineup which will be guided by a teenager in his first major representative match running a cutter has eyes for nothing but the 100m by 70m maize of green at Cooks Gardens tomorrow against West Coast.
Both teams are now in do-or-die mode to earn a Meads Cup semifinal spot, contending with fifth-placed Buller facing Mid Canterbury at home, and after making then remaking plans with his assistant coaches at least twice a day all week, coach Karl Hoskin has no more cards left to play.
It was planned to be a light training last night to let each player use whatever internal monologue they prefer to get ready for Saturday, rather than being swamped by the pressure of not being the first Wanganui team to miss the Meads Cup playoffs in the eight years of the Pink Batts Heartland Championship.
“For a number of them it’s a funny situation to be in. We either dig ourselves out or we go down the tube,” said Hoskin.
“It’s too late for nerves, we’ve just got to go out and win this game that’s it.
“All the wishful thinking in the world, but we’ve still got to go out there and win it.”
To this end the spotlight falls on teenager Zyon Hekenui, the Ruapehu fullback-turned-Wanganui-winger who took his chance midway through the campaign and has now been asked to run the team from first-five, with Areta Lama moving to the bench.
Along with goalkicking, Hekenui must stand across the pitch from the very experienced Tim Priest the Canterbury import who nailed a last minute drop goal to give West Coast a shock Seddon Shield win over Nelson Bays during pre-season.
“I’ve got faith in the young guy,” said Hoskin of Hekenui, who drew a line in the sand favouring local talent over imports in 2013.
“If you think back to the start of the season he was one of three who we probably wouldn’t use, another was Robert Lavin, and now they’ve both been capped.
“He can pull this off, he can run that backline.
“[Priest’s] been around, but you back your own horse.”
In a forced change, soldier Sonny Woodmass is expected to be up in the back-blocks on army exercises until 5am on Saturday morning, so Andrew Evans will start at lock and Simon Hillis returns to the bench.
If any player will be feeling the occasion it is Wanganui No8 and former Coaster Lasa Ulukuta.
It is a rugby union game that will have an almost ‘State of Origin’ league-type feel for Ulukuta, who was educated at Greymouth High School and played Heartland rugby from 2004-8 for West Coast.
At least half a dozen of the visiting squad are former teammates at either representative or club level including tough flanker Alan Monk, speedster winger Maleli Mudu and robust fullback Robert Thompson.
West Coast will rate their chances and on current form, even Hoskin admits the South Islanders would be devastated to miss the Meads Cup playoffs after the season they’ve had.
Heading into last weekend only one loss to Wairarapa Bush blighted their record, before a last minute converted try lifted North Otago away from them 32-22.
Kickoff is 2.30pm.
By Jared Smith –Â WANGANUI CHRONICLE
Heartland Rugby Championship 