Bay coach says don't read too much into match result

Bay of Plenty coach Vern Cotter doubts victory over the Lions would significantly aid the All Blacks' test preparations.

The Bay kick off the tour in Rotorua on Saturday night against a strong Lions side imbued with a resolve to start the trip on a winning note.

Cotter, back with his team yesterday after a successful campaign as Crusaders assistant coach, liked the buzz he saw from his players in the course of two training runs in Tauranga.

But if they can overcome tall odds and stun the Lions it's more likely to produce a glow of provincial glory rather than have any bearing on the three-test series.

"Certainly it will lift the nation if we get a win against them," Cotter said. "But they're obviously looking at it in two parts - provincial matches and test matches.

"Even if we beat them you wouldn't read a lot into how they'll perform or prepare for the tests."

And Cotter played down any idea that the Bay, who traditionally front up against touring teams with a whiff of cordite in their nostrils, will provoke any trouble on Saturday night.

There's a fine line between positive aggression and unacceptable ruggedness and Cotter insists his team won't be looking for trouble - but equally they won't be shying away from any confrontation.

"Certainly it hasn't been talked about among the team," he said.

"But we're playing a team who are bigger than us so they'll probably try and bully us at set phases.

"So we have to be up for the challenge physically, but without going over the top.

"The Bay are an emotional team, no two ways about it. They are passionate about their rugby, but it's certainly not going to boil over into a non-match."

Cotter says time is not on his side in terms of preparing an overall game plan.

"We're not going to get through the majority of the detail we'd like to. But we'll get through about 50 per cent of what we'll try to develop through the NPC and focus on being competitive."

He will be able to select his 22 from a fully fit squad after a clean bill of health was confirmed last night.

Props Simms Davison and Taufa'aso Filise, troubled by back and knee injuries respectively, are fit, as is midfield back Alan Bunting, who has recovered from a broken thumb.

It was just another Tuesday in Rotorua yesterday although the city is slowly warming up for Saturday. Flags welcoming the Lions are up, as are those with the Bay colours. But the most obvious rugby sign had nothing to do with the tour.

A van parked in a main street had a remarkable likeness to a certain celebrated former All Black captain painted on a door and the logo "Bring Back Buck" splashed along the side.