Coach trying to forget nightmare

Counties Manukau rugby coach Andrew Talaimanu does not want a repeat of what happened two years ago when Canterbury visit Pukekohe on Sunday.

Talaimanu was the assistant coach to Mac McCallion in 1999 and the pair had to sit and squirm as Canterbury ran amok in their NPC first division match, scoring 12 tries in their record 82-22 win.

Talaimanu remembers young fullback Ben Blair, in only his fourth match for Canterbury, caning Counties with three tries and 11 conversions.

Blair's 37 points remains the record for the most points in a first division match.

"Canterbury are a real machine. If you let them get into their stride they're very hard to stop," Talaimanu said yesterday.

"They gave us a thumping last time we played them here. We'll have to do the best we can with our defensive patterns, and try to do more with the ball ourselves.

"We defended well for long periods against Wellington last Saturday, but you can't defend for 35 minutes a half and expect to win. The best way to win is to attack."

Talaimanu said he would study a video tape of Canterbury's record 62-19 victory against Otago at the weekend.

"Obviously, they're in ominous form. With Otago and Canterbury losing the previous week, it boiled down to which team came off the loss best. And Canterbury are always a difficult side to play after a loss."

Talaimanu has to lift his players' spirits after they crumbled against a recharged Wellington 47-0.

"We didn't play very well and they got a few things together. They were under pressure from the media last week after their loss to Southland. We froze and they thawed out."

Counties Manukau face a month on the road after the Canterbury match, a situation which greatly displeases Talaimanu.

"The draw is done to suit the Ranfurly Shield holders [Canterbury] while the All Blacks are away.

"Games should alternate between home and away. Having four matches in a row at home is crazy because we're away for the next four weeks.

"That's hard on our supporters. I don't think any of the big unions would like to spend four weeks on the road at the end of the season."

- NZPA