Be wary of wolf in Rams’ clothing

Ngāti Porou East Coast winger Verdon Bartlett supports first-five Te Rangi Fraser during their Heartland match against Poverty Bay. NPEC take on King Country at Whakarua Park in Ruatōria tomorrow. Picture by Paul Rickard

When Will Smith wrote the lyrics to Gettin Jiggy Wit It, he might have had a roadie up State Highway 35 in mind.

If  the Ngāti Porou East Coast Kaupoi tap into the joyful vibe of a carnival atmosphere at Enterprise Cars Whakarua Park tomorrow, heaven help the visitors.

The King Country Rams would allow themselves to be swept up in the occasion at their peril in Week 7 of the Heartland Championship.

It will be a tough battle in Ruatōria — as it always is — between NPEC and the Rams, irrespective of the fact that the hosts sit in fourth place with 20 competition points on the 12-team table and King Country are in ninth spot with 11.

Following tomorrow’s game, the Kaupoi will play fellow top-four contenders Thames Valley at Waihi in their last round-robin game before the split to the Meads Cup (top four) and Lochore Cup (fifth to eighth) pools for semifinals.

The Coast, sitting in fourth place, have Meads Cup qualification in their sights but three teams are breathing down thier necks, so a win is imperative.

The Coast’s scrum and lineout were the equal of Whanganui at set-piece last Saturday, but the Butcher Boys — whose 40-24 victory ended the Sky Blues’ streak at four straight wins — proved that momentum, as supplied by big bodies, is a major factor in the modern game.

They broke tackles and their support play against a combative Coast posse was outstanding.

“I want our boys to be clinical, play with mana and put on a good display for our man Verdon (Bartlett),” NPEC head coach Kahu Tamatea said.

The Coast have been boosted by the return of hooker Joe Royal (from Auckland NPC duty), skipper and halfback Sam Parkes and openside flanker Will Bolingford for tomorrow.

Bartlett scored the match-winning try in the 29-27 Meads Cup final win of 2012 against then-defending champions Whanganui.

He will start on the left-wing in his 100th game for NPEC against the Aarin Dunster-coached, Liam Rowlands-led Rams.

Controlling the game in his 33rd first-class appointment, his second at Whakarua Park this season, will be Tipene Cottrell, 29, of Hawke’s Bay. Grant Moore (Bay of Plenty) is assistant referee No.1 and the Coast’s own Matt Richards will be AR2.

NGĀTI POROU EAST COAST: Hakarangi Tichborne, Joseph Royal, Perrin Manuel, Richard Green, Hoani Te Moana, Hone Haerewa, Will Bolingford, Mitchell Crosswell, Sam Parkes (c), Te Rangi Fraser, Verdon Bartlett, Tutere Waenga, Api Pewhairangi, Pamona Samupo, Renata Roberts-Te Nana. RESERVES: Jorian Tangaere (vc), Jayden Leiua-Pokia, Semisi Akana, Riki Waitoa, Frank Taiapa, Josh Dearden, Te Aho Morice, Taane Paki.            .

KING COUNTRY RAMS: Ben Popplewell, Liam Rowlands (c), Carey Peina, Bradly Jeffries, Eli Winders, Leveson Gower, Karney Dunster, Kaleb Foote, Zayn Tipping, Quinn Collard, Zacharia Wickham-Darlington, Cameron Robinson, Logan Patterson, Sisa Vosaki, Oliver Foote. RESERVES: Samuel Robinson, Piahana Astle-Harris, Nicholas Barnes, Reeve Satherley, Tamaki Kopa, Kane Tamou, Mosese Baravalia, Diego Rangi.