News

Tasman have no fear over Lions

September 26 2008

Tasman prop Ben Franks says the Makos need to go in fearless in their Ranfurly Shield challenge against Wellington on Saturday.

Last season, he was part of Canterbury's successful rugby challenge against Waikato (33-20) in Hamilton before suffering the pain of defeat just four weeks later against Auckland (15-26) after just one successful defence against Hawke's Bay.

On Saturday, the 24-year-old tighthead prop will be part of a Tasman Makos line-up attempting what many believe is the impossible task of taking the Log o' Wood off an unbeaten Wellington team that is setting the standards in this Air New Zealand Cup competition.

But after three seasons of Super 14 rugby with the Crusaders and a wealth of first-class exposure with both Canterbury and Tasman, Franks has a keener appreciation than most of what's in store for Tasman on Saturday at Wellington's Westpac Stadium.

"Like any other big game, it's what we bring to it as a team that counts," Franks told The Nelson Mail.

"You've got to go out there and give it everything. Like every big game you play it's just over so fast - it'll be over before you know it."

He's certainly not buying into any talk of Wellington being underprepared following the distractions of team celebrations, street parades and the death of head coach Jamie Joseph's father, former Marlborough prop Jim Joseph, earlier this week.

He knows Wellington will be ready and that Tasman must produce its best performance of the season if it's to be competitive.

"I just think we need to go into this game fearless - just leave everything out there," said Franks.

"It's all we can ask. If we go out there and give it everything, I'm pretty confident we're going to be in that game come the last minutes. But anything less, we could have 50 points (put) on us."

That's a sobering thought, considering Tasman's frustrating inability to finish the genuine try-scoring opportunities it's been creating lately - particularly in their 21-all draw with Otago and last week's 3-6 loss to Southland.

"I haven't watched too much of Wellington," said Franks.

"Obviously they're going pretty well but probably if you look at a team too much, you get focused on what they do well and you forget what we do well.

"Even though we've had some up and down results, we've been competitive in all of our games and we've been playing some good rugby.

"Little mistakes at crucial times have let us down but I still believe we're very close to that performance that we know we can deliver and if we do that on Saturday night, I think we're going to put these guys to the test a bit.

"It's not as if we can't play, it's just silly mistakes in their 22 when we need to mount that pressure.

"Everything's fine, our patterns are fine, we're making line breaks, it's just those little mistakes. They're not major things either ... it's probably more of a frustration than a worry."

Franks has been part of an impressive Tasman front row this season in which hooker Perrin and loosehead prop Ben May - returning this week from a rib injury - have anchored an effective scrum.

"Obviously you can't play without a good set piece and we've worked really hard at it. I still think we can get better there," said Franks.

"(Wellington) have got a great set piece and any team that's going well has to have that. If we want to compete this week, that's an area where we'll need to be strong."