Rugby: Cup call-ups hamper Magpies' promotion bid

Aaron Cruden. Photo / Getty Images

Finding fit and available personnel has been a challenge for Hawke's Bay coach Peter Russell. The Magpies head into today's ITM Cup Championship final against Manawatu in Palmerston North without nine front-line players due to injury or World Cup commitments.

Hika Elliot (hamstring), Michael Coman (ankle), Zac Guildford and Israel Dagg (both with the All Blacks), Sona Taumalolo (Tonga) and Kahn Fotuali'i, Logovi'i Mulipola, Kane Thompson and Anthony Perenise (all with Samoa) are unavailable. However, forwards coach Tom Coventry is back from duties with Samoa.

While the side might be light on experience, Russell said his team would have no problem getting up for the final.

"I don't think we'll lack for enthusiasm, that's for sure," he said. "It's massive. It's pretty much the same for Manawatu. Both teams deserve to be there. We've done well against the supposed top teams."

The Bay won three of their four games against Premiership sides, with defeats of Southland, Wellington and Bay of Plenty. Hawke's Bay also have plenty of depth this weekend, despite the high number of players unavailable. Hurricanes wing Richard Buckman is no slouch, halfback Chris Eaton has been solid and fellow Super Rugby player Daniel Kirkpatrick provides them direction around the park from first five-eighth. New Zealand under-20s lock Brodie Rettalick and the hard-hitting Karl Lowe also provide grunt in the forward pack.

Hawke's Bay have had a week to rest for the final, after their unsuccessful bid to take the Ranfurly Shield from Taranaki last Sunday.

Russell said the week-long break came at an ideal time after they were forced to play three games in eight days with fixtures against Counties Manukau and Northland before the shield challenge.

"We are asking them to go for one more trip to the well," Russell said. "We knew last week was going to be our toughest week with the amount of players who have gone and [the lack of] fresh legs."

The Turbos toppled the Magpies 32-23 in the opening round of the competition in Palmerston North in July but Russell said that result didn't give Manawatu the edge this weekend.

"Nah, nothing like that at all. It's just one of those things. They got us on the hop and scored a couple of quick tries and that was the game, really.

"We'd like to think that leading at halftime and getting points on the board would be pretty crucial in the final and just making sure everyone's up for the week."

Keeping Manawatu pivot Aaron Cruden under wraps would also go a long way to seeing the Magpies claim a victory and earn promotion to next year's Premiership division.

"He's their key," Russell said. "It's understandable. He's been playing very well."

If Hawke's Bay were to win, they would be the first team to beat the Turbos in Palmerston North this season.