Rugby: Time now right for BoP win

It has been 22 years since Bay of Plenty rugby has troubled the trophy engravers, but Bay captain Clayton McMillan is not using that as motivation for a second-division NPC final victory at Tauranga Domain today.

Bay of Plenty host defending champions Nelson Bays in the final but McMillan does not view the union's lack of playoff success as reason for winning.

"We don't want people feeling sorry for us because of what has or hasn't happened in the past," the 26-year-old Rotorua policeman said yesterday.

"Last year's loss in the final [13-14 to Nelson Bays] is in the back of guys' minds but hasn't been brought up.

"Just because we've won a few games this season doesn't mean we deserve to win tomorrow as of right either. The guys truly believe we'll win because it is our time to finally have a victory."

McMillan, who featured last week with a huge defensive effort, said he was more nervous before last Sunday's semifinal against King Country.

"I'm feeling less pressure this week and the team as a whole are pretty relaxed.

"We were probably more nervous last week because of the prospect of getting tipped over in the semifinals, which would have been a huge disaster.

"It would still be a tragedy if we didn't win tomorrow, but our goal was to make the final and we've taken that step."

Little has separated the teams in the past 12 months, with Bay of Plenty winning last season's round-robin match 20-16, losing the final 13-14 and downing Nelson at Trafalgar Park last month 26-20.

McMillan said: "It's a new ball game but there's nothing to suggest it won't be another close one," he said.

"It is essential we dominate as an eight and get our defence tight again because if we can get Nelson going backwards, when they get the ball their backs have to work twice as hard to make headway.

"We've put in all the hours this season and we know the importance of the final.

"We've come this far, but if we want to stake a claim for division-one [status] we need to win tomorrow."

Outstanding Bay of Plenty lock Paul Tupai got the all clear to make his 70th appearance for the Bay after the team's final training session.

But first five-eighths Dean Jennings was not so lucky and will have to make his comeback off the bench.

Jennings tore his left calf in Bay of Plenty's loss to Marlborough two weeks ago, and coach Gordon Tietjens has chosen Rodney Gibbs, who kicked 23 points in the semifinal victory.

Keith Pryor, the NPC's leading tryscorer with 11, strained his back on Thursday night and took a limited part in training, with schoolboy wing Charles Baxter called in as cover.

- NZPA