Prop set to erase Magpie memories
For Joe Savage, last year's pre-season rugby match against Hawke's Bay signalled a demoralising change in fortunes.
The Steamers prop had just finished a season with the Chiefs; he was fit, fresh and fizzing. Named as Bay of Plenty captain for the first time, Savage eagerly led his side out onto Tauranga Domain against the visiting Magpies ... only to scurry off 80mins later with his side on the wrong end of a 35-7 hiding.
Of course, that game was also Greg Smith's last act in his all too brief tenure as Steamers coach and a week later, Savage ruined his knee in the opening NPC match with Northland.
Tomorrow, the 27-year-old loosehead will trot onto McLean Park in Napier for Bay of Plenty's second pre-season match a year older and wiser.
After missing out on the 2010 Chiefs, Savage also boasts unbridled enthusiasm for a new Steamers campaign.
"This year, the ITM Cup has been my sole focus and I've watched the guys around me putting in all the work towards it," Savage, who has also just become a new dad, said. "It's just made me want to get into it even more."
The Steamers front row is exactly as it was a year ago, with Savage lining up alongside hooker John Pareanga and tighthead Josh Hohneck.
Elsewhere, there are a host of new faces, with only Ben Smith, Colin Bourke, Culum Retallick and Jason Hona having started the corresponding fixture a year ago.
That's delighted Savage, who is anticipating big things from the bolstered Bay ranks.
"There is more expectation this year because there's a lot more depth, and a few players who are still to prove themselves for the Bay yet. I definitely feel it - last year we didn't have a lot of pressure on us from guys behind but this year we're thriving on it and pushing harder at training."
Even though the front-row stocks are thin this week, there was the pleasing sight of James McGougan getting through a heavy session on Tuesday, while new Tasman recruits Dan Perrin and Tristan Moran have also been prominent.
New halfback signing Taniela Moa isn't expected until next week, and with Josh Hall also struggling with injury, it means Chad Tuoro will start tomorrow with no obvious cover on the bench.
Sam Cane has recovered enough from gashing his chest but Luke Braid is still nursing a cut cheek. Chris Elvin has been brought onto the bench as extra cover as 23rd man.
Savage, meanwhile, would like to think a decent season could again set him up for a crack at Super 15, after the disappointment of 2009.
"You can't help injuries but I would've liked to have come back a bit earlier last year. In the last game against Taranaki, I was just getting comfortable again and was playing a bit better. I didn't really get a chance to do much strength work so when I got back in, my legs weren't that strong and it was a bit of a shock after five or six weeks out."
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Originally Posted by KiwiPie
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