KEY POINTS:
Getting physical is the theme of the Air New Zealand Cup as provincial teams step up to the demands of first class rugby.
Year two of the revamped national competition is a "get it together" season with a do-or-die round-robin that will see eight teams jostle for places in the playoffs.
Tasman coach Dennis Brown knows only too well that the advantage of surprise from talented but unknown players is gone.
"We have to get physical, get the ball and score points. Simple as that," he said.
"Physicality" is the buzz word of the coaches across the country. Champions Waikato, runners up Wellington and leading provinces such as Canterbury, Otago, Auckland and North Harbour have an established platform to launch their campaign.
Champions Waikato have experience in the form of Jono Gibbes, Sione Lauaki, Steve Bates, Stephen Donald and Sosene Anesi.
Canterbury built up their side nicely last season, with Stephen Brett, Andrew Ellis, Corey Flynn, Scott Hamilton, Tim Bateman, Kieren Read and Mose Tuiali'i expected to take them to the top four -- at least -- this season.
In contrast, Counties coach Kevin Putt said his team lacked real experience.
"We have a heap of talent and will be relying on the 'X' factor to counter the lack of experience. We are definitely work in progress," he said.
"Some say we will either sink or swim. I think we'll swim. We need hard game time and we're facing the toughest four -- Auckland, Canterbury, North Harbour and Waikato -- first up.
"After that we should be able to hold our own."
Among the bright stars Putt has to call on are try-scoring Chiefs winger Lelia Masaga and Niva Ta'auso.
A getting-tough exercise took Otago to the "snow farm" 1500m above Wanaka, where fitness trainers took them to the edge of physical fatigue.
Not that Otago were not tough enough already, but coach Steve Martin was looking for an extra edge.
"We have a series of new combinations with a number of players who are not yet household names. It is important they gell together," he said.
Otago are building their top side around Callum Bruce, Tom Donnelly, Craig Newby and Ben Smith.
They'll be hard-hit by the departures or absences of Josh Blackie, Anton Oliver, Carl Hayman, Seilala Mapusua, Neil Brew and James Ryan.
Auckland, fresh back from a "bonding" trip to Thailand, are upbeat about their chances, apparently super fit and mentally prepared for the slog.
Coach Pat Lam has a solid core of experienced players such as Ben Atiga, Angus Macdonald, Daniel Braid, Isa Nacewa, Derren Witcombe and Steve Devine.
He will even have All Blacks lock Ali Williams for at least some of the season as he tries to play himself back from a broken jaw.
Northland's Marc Anscombe said his team was the heart of provincial rugby.
"We have drawn players like top try-scoring Fetu Vainikolo from local clubs and that helps build support. But we know we have got to get some wins early."
It will be a tough task with Ranfurly Shield holders North Harbour and Otago their first-up opponents.
Northland felt luck was on their side. Their training camp at flood-stricken Kaeo in the Far North, with training at the local primary school, went off without a hitch.
Then the storms hit.
"After we finished the rain came and Kaeo was seven foot under water -- we were lucky alright."
Coach Kieran Crowley's Taranaki also have strong local following.
Their Linton Army Camp pre-season hit-out included jaunts over physical training courses designed to test fibre and stamina.
"All our players bar one Super 14 player, Tony Penn, are the best of talent from the club series," Crowley said.
"People know that their team is home-grown and I think that is good for representative cup rugby."
Penn has taken over the captaincy from from the departed Paul Tito, who has gone overseas.
Typical of the more rural-based teams, Taranaki had 14 new players last year and there are six newcomers this season.
North Harbour attributed part of their success to an academy programme designed to groom emerging talent.
Cup preparation has gone hand-in-hand with their Ranfurly Shield defences.
The test of depth in provincial rugby was more taxing this year with most of the 30 World Cup squad withdrawn from the competition, and significant player drain overseas.
Bay of Plenty coach Kevin Schuler said it had always been like that.
"Players move on and new opportunities are created for younger players to show their stuff," he said.
He wanted the competition to be attractive to watch.
"That's our style. We want to play rugby to score tries.
"We have struggled to maintain consistency in the past but a lot of our Bay boys have come back from overseas and will strengthen the side. We have resisted going outside the clubs and that gives us a lot more meaning as a Bay team."
- NZPA
