Lions hoping to get just rewards for hard work

ROSS GIBLIN/The Dominion Post

READY FOR ACTION: Wellington Lions wing Hosea Gear is all concentration during a training session.

ROSS GIBLIN/The Dominion Post

READY FOR ACTION: Wellington Lions wing Hosea Gear is all concentration during a training session yesterday for tomorrow's NPC opener against Tasman in Wellington.

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Anyone caught walking at Wellington Lions training this week has been sent to the line for down and ups.

It's a relentless policy that sums up the "attitude" coach Jamie Joseph hopes will come through during tomorrow's NPC season opener against Tasman at Westpac Stadium.

For two years Joseph has preached the gospel on doing the dirty work before chasing the glory, something he believes has long been a weakness in Wellington rugby.

It is demanded more of gifted tight forwards such as hooker Dane Coles and lock Jeremy Thrush, and has rewarded workaholic Mark Reddish, who will start at blindside flanker.

Wings Hosea Gear and Julian Savea and try-scoring centre Alapati Leiua will draw the crowds and mercurial first-five Fa'atonu Fili provide the gasps. But if the message of Joseph and his assistant, Andre Bell, has been heard, they won't see the ball until the hard work has been completed in the trenches.

"With all the hard work comes the reward of winning the games and playing well," Gear said yesterday. "Jamie's philosophy is that hard work during the week builds a bit of confidence leading into the game."

Wellington should be brimming after Joseph named a side with an exciting mix of experience and potential.

On paper the TAB's lopsided odds shouldn't be far off. Tasman will take hope from the absence of injured halfback Alby Mathewson, No8 Rodney So'oialo and openside flanker Serge Lilo and a raw-looking Lions reserves bench.

But Wellington have too much pace and power, with eight players with Super 14 experience in the starting XV.

"There's a lot of talent and a lot of skill. Probably not a lot of experience for some of those younger guys, but that's what we are there for," Gear said. "If we can get them to be positive and express themselves and back themselves, we should be able to put together a polished performance."

Gear is not hiding from the fact that Wellington's senior players crave a title after a string of near misses with the Lions and the Hurricanes.

"Some of us older guys have been in this position for quite a few years now and haven't got over that final hurdle. We are getting almost desperate for that title, but the previous losses have also built up that motivation."

Joseph said the presence of prop Neemia Tialata, who will skipper the side against Tasman, and So'oialo had added an "edge" to the side.

"I think that's because they've missed out on the All Blacks and clearly want to get back in. That hungry experience is really good to have, as opposed to guys who have just played a lot of rugby."

He was expecting Tasman to spread the ball to their outside backs with Kade Poki, Afeleke Pelenise, and Robbie Malneek particularly dangerous with ball in hand.

Tasman are yet to beat the Lions in four matches since 2006, though they have proved a difficult opposition and lost by just 22-14 last year when they seemed similarly out-gunned.

Bell hoped his side could play attractive rugby, but the backs would not be simply tossed the ball and told to score tries.

"We call that transition. I think this year the players are starting to see we are not just about playing side to side, but you have to do the hard work. If we can do that with front-foot ball we'll be hard to stop."

AT A GLANCE

Wellington v Tasman
Venue: Westpac Stadium
TAB odds: Wellington $1.06, Tasman $8.00
Referee: Josh Noonan (Canterbury)
TV: Sky Sport 1, 4.35pm

Wellington: Apoua Stewart, Julian Savea, Alapati Leiua, Shaun Treeby, Hosea Gear, Fa'atonu Fili, Ruki Tipuna, Faifili Levave, Scott Fuglistaller, Mark Reddish, Daniel Ramsay, Jeremy Thrush, Neemia Tialata (c), Dane Coles, John Schwalger. Reserves: Ged Robinson, Reg Goodes, Api Naikatini, TJ Ioane, Jared Kahu, Hayden Cripps, Charlie Ngatai.

Tasman: Robbie Malneek, Blair Cook, Kade Poki, Tom Marshall, Afeleki Pelenise, James Marshall, Steve Alfeld, Tasi Luafutu, Jonathan Poff, Joe Wheeler, Chris Jack (c), Jarrod Aberhart, Fai Mika, Francis Smith, Sam Prattley. Reserves: Vernon Fredericks, Hamish Cochrane, Glenn Gregory, Shane Christie, Kaide Whiting, Daniel Hawkins, James Kamana.

- © Fairfax NZ News