Rugby: Tasman relaxed about life on 'death row'

Tasman are focusing on improving their performance on the field. Photo / Getty Images

Tasman's questionable provincial rugby future will not be a distraction ahead of this season's competition opener against Taranaki in Blenheim tonight.

With four teams to be excluded from the Air NZ Cup's new premier division next season, the troubled joint venture between Marlborough and Nelson Bays appears a logical candidate for the drop.

Tasman were on the brink of financial collapse last season and required a bail-out from the New Zealand Rugby Union to stay solvent.

The sport's governing body will not be as generous this season, so the union faces multiple challenges to satisfy the NZRU's criteria before the unsuitable provinces are axed on November 20.

Fear for the future could be a natural distraction for the players, but co-coach Bevan Cadwallader said the squad's focus was squarely on improving on their quarterfinal finish in 2008.

Despite being on the brink of folding - and Marlborough's desire to revert to their original stand-alone status - Tasman exceeded expectations by reaching the play-offs after coming perilously close to ending Wellington's Ranfurly Shield reign at the first defence.

Tasman host Taranaki in the competition opener at Blenheim tonight (7.35pm), with Cadwallader saying conjecture about the union's future had not affected the players.

"We spent last year on death throw so we're not too bothered by it," he said.

"We've got a fantastic bunch of young men, they're very focused and passionate about the Makos.

"We don't know what the criteria is. As rugby players and coaches we're not great around the board table.

"Whatever will be, will be in November. All we can do is try and ensure our performance justifies our admittance to the top level next year."

Doubts over their continued participation last year meant they had to settle for a limited pre-season.

Once their future was temporarily assured there was only scope to play a top-flight practice match against Otago before 50-minute trials against the Nelson Bays and Marlborough sub-union sides.

Although it might have seemed natural for players to look elsewhere in the off-season prop Ben May and No 8 Jack Lam were the only key defections - to Waikato.

Wing James Kamana travelled in the opposite direction to bolster one of the more expansive backlines in the competition.

All Black locks Brad Thorn and Ali Williams are no longer on the books, though they will hardly be missed.

Thorn debuted in the quarterfinal loss to Canterbury last season; Williams never played for the province that facilitated his temporary move to the Crusaders in 2007.

Cadwallader was proud of the fact at least 20 of last year's squad had opted to stay put.

"A couple of guys retired and two (Lam and May) transferred.

"We're proud of our environment and the culture we've created here.

"It's largely home grown. People say we're a manufactured Crusaders outfit but 90 per cent of our guys were born or educated in the region and have stayed around to represent their family and friends."

The Crusaders' contingent of Kahn Fotuali'i, Kade Poki, Ben Franks and Jonathan Poff will be crucial this season while Kamana and national sevens rep Afeleki Pelenise are proven finishers out wide.

"We don't fear any team," Cadwallader said before a physical match-up with Taranaki.

"We're going to climb into them and show we're going to be a pretty reasonable side this year."

- NZPA