Stags expect 'toughie' at Tasman

Despite holding the Ranfurly Shield for all of the early ITM Cup season, Southland have said they do anything but take Tasman lightly this Friday.

That was the message coming from forward Kane Thompson this week as two of the form teams in the competition prepare to meet in Blenheim.

Friday's hosts will certainly be full of confidence after beating both Hawke's Bay and more recently Canterbury, while the table-toppers held off the former last Sunday with a narrow 23-20 success. And that has led to Thompson warning his team.

"We're certainly not taking them lightly, that's for sure," he said of the Makos, speaking to sportal.co.nz.

"They're pretty dangerous, especially from broken play. They've got some exciting young backs. They can be pretty lethal with any turnover ball."

Southland's most recent victory - to make it four wins from four in 2010 - was by no means straightforward. But that's not stopped Thompson wanting to make it five.

"It would be outstanding if we could win five in a row and that's what we aim to do, but we know this will be a toughie," he continued.

"There was certainly a lot of relief to get a win on the road [in Nelson].

"There had been a lot of pressure with the last two Ranfurly Shield defences.

"Hawke's Bay were hurting after losing their last two games and we knew they were going to come at us. They were desperate. We were specially pleased to get the win for Jason [Rutledge] in his 100th game. He's been such a huge part of Southland rugby.

"It showed how the guys have matured over the years. It's a game we probably would have lost a few seasons ago."

Samoan international forward Thompson, who has run out fourteen times for his country, concluded by citing his hunger to appear on the World Cup stage in 2011.

"I'd love to play for Samoa in another World Cup," he said.

"That's my goal and that's part of the reason why I came back to New Zealand.

"We've got plenty of loosies in the Samoan squad but not a lot of height so I usually play at lock. I'm pretty comfortable in either position. I've played most of my rugby for Dax in the last couple of years."