Rugby: Steelers not skulking after thrashing

By Richard Boock

A week can be long time in rugby, especially if you're wearing dark glasses, a false beard, and moving only under the cover of darkness.

But Mac McCallion is adamant his Counties-Manukau side will not be looking to hide when they square off against Otago this afternoon, a week after being humiliated 82-22 by Canterbury, and being accused of lacking the stuff for which they're named - steel.

McCallion says it has been a tough week for his team, having to cope with the ridicule, but believed human nature dictated his players would bounce back this weekend and demonstrate their true character, worth and commitment.

"I've got a good gut feeling about this," he said last night. "People react to adversity, it's just natural. We're not as much talking about a test of our rugby, as of our character. The guys have been challenged to dig deep, and I'm sure they will."

The signs, he said, had been encouraging all week. Training had been lively and purposeful, the introduction of Ramon Lindsay to the second row and the re-shuffled backline was looking promising, while - on a more personal note - the players were desperate to make amends.

And neither had McCallion forgotten how Counties reacted the last time they were down-and-out, after losing four on the trot in last year's NPC championship.

"We came back then and I'm sure we can do it again," he said. "We've sat down and talked about the loss, discussed the issues. We've all had a good look at ourselves and then we've concentrated on knuckling down for the Otago match. Training's been really good."

The Steelers might also consider their visitors ripe for the picking, even though the southerners sit in second-equal place on points compared to Counties' lowly ranking - above only Southland, Northland and Taranaki.

The truth of the matter, however, is that Otago have led a charmed life through the early stages of the competition, squeaking in against Northland, stealing a tie against Southland, and then pipping North Harbour courtesy of Paul (the Bonus) Honiss. Their only slightly comfortable win was against Taranaki (40-26), and that was with several of their All Blacks on board.

The defending champions have been developing some excellent young forwards in the absence of their internationals, notably hooker Tom Willis and academy flanker Duncan Blaikie, but Counties will be hoping to ask some questions of Cory Brown's passing game (particularly to his left), and Simon Maling's abilities at blindside flanker.