The scene is set for a spectacular showdown between the two best teams in the world, the New Zealand Touch Blacks and Australia. The Auckland region is humming with Touch fever. The Waitakere Trust Stadium Field has been immaculately prepared and ready for the star-studded Trans Tasman battle. Three test matches will be played on Friday, Saturday and Sunday (22-24 Jan) consisting of Open Mens, Womens, and Mixed grades.
The Australian teams have been climatising to the land of the Long White Cloud over the last couple of days and have also notched up a couple of preparation matches against invitation teams. They seem to be more than ready to take on the home nation to defend there titles.
The Open Mixed grade will be the first teams to go to war. Both the Touch Blacks and Australia have well balanced teams consisting of experience, youth, and x-factor. Veteran, Tony Eltakchi, will be the centre piece of the Australian line up (with three World Cups under his belt). Matching this experience in the Touch Blacks is team player, Wade Sharp (also with three World Cups). NZ have won a lot more battles in the last ten years in this grade but will be looking to redeem themselves after going down in last year’ Trans Tasman. Watch out for x-factor players Mohi Aupouri (NZ) and Ben Moylan (Aus) as they come into play on the ‘5’
Next up will be the Open Womens. This women’s grade will show off some of Australians highly skilled and ‘fittest’ bodies in the sporting arena. The young and flamboyant NZ Touch Blacks Women’s team is ready to front up against the always solid Australian team. The Australians have never surrendered the number 1 spot in the womens grade. It is not going to be an easy record to break for NZ as Australia will be firing shots from ‘Winchesters’ Claire and Louise (captain) and the player ‘as smooth as her name’ Bo De La Cruz. Never the less, the NZ team will be stand up to the challenge of breaking this track record with their own strike players ‘fast stepping’ Renee Wickliffe, ‘fast thinking’ Leana Hoani and ‘all rounder’ Carla Hohepa.
Last but not lest is the show down between the male species. This is set to be the hardest match to pick with both teams evolving with young, exciting, fast paced, side stepping, agile, highly skilled players…in other words…’Freaks of nature’. The last Trans Tasman saw spectators on the edge of their sets with Australia narrowly winning the title against the young NZ team. With NZ’s new stars having a year under their belt and Australia introducing a few upcoming stars of their own…this is going to electric. The Australian team will be lead by one of the best in the game (NZ born) Drumayne Dayberg-Muir. If NZ want this title, they will have to shut down this danger man along with the ‘intoxicating’ Dylan Hennessey. NZ have stars like Ed Burrell, Nazea Silbery (captain), and Maurice Stone but will be counting on a team effort to topple the current world champs.
The preparation is done, the teams are ready…. Who will be the 2010 Trans Tasman Champions?
Last Modified on 22/01/2010 19:36