RUGBY - Wary Anscombe seeks pressing performance

Mark Anscombe has the paperwork to prove it, and if you ask politely, he may even show you himself.
Actually, given the paper work in question shows that the Northland rugby team he coaches is one of the best defensive and most disciplined, while also ranking as the team least likely to turnover the ball, he might even show even if you don't ask.
But even Anscombe knows that, when it comes to playing Tasman, there is only one statistic that seems to matter: Tasman 3, Northland 0.
Northland meet Tasman in round four of the Air NZ Cup at Homeworld Stadium in Whangarei tonight, yet another match that looms large on the playing schedule if they have any hope of making a quarterfinal this year.
But while buoyed by the morale boosting last-gasp win last week, the fact that Northland has yet to score a win over the newest rugby province in the country is weighing heavy.
Northland has played Tasman three times, and lost all three by significant margins. What is more, Anscombe thinks Tasman are riding a wave of confidence heading into tonight's fixture.
"They have had back-to-back wins so their confidence is building. I think they would have targeted so they can get three wins on the trot," Anscombe said.
But while wary of the opposition, there are several aspects of the Northland game that Anscombe hopes will help his team tonight. Because the first three weeks of the competition have revealed some interesting statistical patterns.
"If you look at the three rounds of rugby so far we are in the top half dozen in several aspects in the competition," he said.
"Missed tackles we are third best in the comp, handling errors we are second, lost possession we are first, mistakes first and penalties conceded third, so there are some good aspects to our game that we are building on."
"But we have got to show a bit more urgency with the ball and back ourselves to strike. We are getting the ball and hoping we are going to get something rather than running hard and making something of it."
Former All Blacks wing Caleb Ralph is poised to make his first appearance for Tasman tonight.
On loan from Canterbury, Ralph will make his first appearance since the Super 14 ended in May, and shapes as a ready-made replacement for Canterbury-domiciled former All Black Rico Gear.
Last year's first choice halfback Kahn Fotuali'i is also named among the reserves for what will be his comeback from a broken hand sustained against Southland pre-season.
In the only injury-enforced change from the Tasman side that beat Hawke's 23-17 in Blenheim last Friday, Blair Cook comes on to the wing for Afeleke Pelenisi, who is resting a minor leg injury.
World Cup bound All Blacks lock Chris Jack is replaced in the second row by Nathan George.