TJoe Apikotoa carries during the Magpies' captain's run with Ash Dixon (left), Pouri Rakete-Stones and Devan Flanders in support. Photo / Paul Taylor
TJoe Apikotoa carries during the Magpies' captain's run with Ash Dixon (left), Pouri Rakete-Stones and Devan Flanders in support. Photo / Paul Taylor
PT261120ashpies2.JPG Hawke's Bay hooker Ash Dixon, centre, and his forwards will be looking for scrum supremacy over Northland. Photo / Paul Taylor
PT261120ashpies.JPG Joe Apikotoa carries during the Magpies' captain's run with Ash Dixon, left, Pouri Rakete-Stones and Devan Flanders in support. Photo / Paul Taylor
Thomas Airey
Hawke's BayMagpies captain Ash Dixon is expecting a close game against Northland in the Mitre 10 Cup Championship final tomorrow night at McLean Park.
He said another big home crowd could make all the difference in what should be a "real ding-dong battle", with both teams going at it.
"The way they played last week, they showed how physical and direct they can be," Dixon said, referring to Northland's impressive 32-19 victory over Otago in Dunedin.
The 32-year-old hooker said his team are really excited about the challenge and have been enjoying the week.
"Obviously it's a final, so everyone understands there's no more next week, this is it," Dixon said.
The Magpies brains trust of assistant coach Josh Syms (left), head coach Mark Ozich and manager Mike Smith during the captains' run on Thursday. Photo / Paul Taylor
"The boys this year have really committed to what we're trying to do as a group, and prepared really well for an occasion like this. We're just really excited for the opportunity we get to go out there in front of our home crowd and play footy on Friday."
According to Hawke's Bay Rugby Union commercial manager Dan Somerville, 5500 tickets had been sold for the game as of Thursday morning.
He said that was a strong number given they only went on sale at 9am on Tuesday and issues with online sales meant fans could only buy tickets in person or over the phone until they were fixed at lunchtime on Wednesday.
Somerville said the union is expecting very big walk up crowd, so they are opening the gates early and encouraging people to buy their tickets as soon as possible, rather than leave it to the last minute.
"We don't want people to miss the start of the game," he said.
Somerville said a couple hundred of those tickets sold have gone to Northland fans, a number which would only grow following the resolution of the online sales issues.
"They always travel well, they've always turned out in force," he said, noting there were maybe 500 or 600 Taniwha fans at McLean Park six weeks ago for Northland's unsuccessful Ranfurly Shield challenge.
Hawke's Bay hooker Ash Dixon (centre) and his forwards will be looking for scrum supremacy over Northland. Photo / Paul Taylor
Those fans will be disappointed that star Northland halfback Sam Nock has been ruled out of the match after suffered a hamstring injury last week against Otago.
Will Grant stepping into the No 9 jersey to replace him, with Corey Taylor coming on to the bench - the only changes from their semifinal lineup.
Hawke's Bay made minimal changes to their playing 23 as well, with starting first five Lincoln McClutchie swapping places with the benched Caleb Makene.
Reserve hooker Kianu Kereru-Symes comes back on to the bench in place of Jacob Devery in the only other change.
Kickoff is at 7.05pm on Friday, with the Magpies rated $1.12 favourites by the TAB to Northland's $5.70 on Thursday.
Northland Taniwha 1. Luatangi Li, 2. Jordan Olsen (captain), 3. Coree Te Whata-Colley, 4. Josh Goodhue, 5. Sam Caird, 6. Tom Robinson, 7. Kara Pryor, 8. Sam McNamara, 9. Will Grant, 10. Dan Hawkins, 11. Jone Macilai, 12. Tamati Tua, 13. Rene Ranger, 14. Jordan Hyland, 15. Mathew Wright. Reserves: 16. Tyler Kearns, 17. Ross Wright, 18. Kaololo Tuiloma, 19. Kane Jacobson, 20. Matt Matich, 21. Corey Taylor, 22. Johnny Cooper, 23. Scott Gregory.
