Persistence pays for Blain
21st August 2009 02:20PM
By EVAN PEGDEN - Waikato Times
Matt Blain never gave up when he missed the Waikato rugby squad for this year's national championship and now that persistence has paid off.
Blain, still only 21, has been named at openside flanker in the team to take on top-of-the-table Bay of Plenty at Mt Maunganui tomorrow afternoon.
He is one of five changes one positional and the rest involving new personnel to the starting XV that are still stinging after copping a 46-13 hiding from Canterbury a week ago in Christchurch.
Other changes see the return of tighthead prop Nathan White for the injured Ben May (chest), who is bracketed on the bench with youngster Latu Talakai, and lock Kevin O'Neill for Toby Lynn, the shifting of Jack Lam from openside flanker to No8 and the introduction of Save Tokula at centre in place of Roimata Hansell-Pune.
Blain, an openside specialist, grew up in the Bay after being born in Te Awamutu and attended Rotorua Boys' High until he finished his schooling at St Peter's School, near Cambridge, in 2005.
The Cambridge connection saw him move to Hautapu for his club rugby and he has been in and around the Waikato squad since, making his Air New Zealand Cup debut last year.
But he could have been excused for looking elsewhere when he missed out on the original Waikato Air New Zealand Cup squad this year.
"Obviously I was disappointed missing out but I just tried to stay positive. I went to the gym every day and went on the rubbish trucks with Keith Lowen, doing a bit of work there," Blain said.
"I just tried to stay positive and hope an opportunity arises and it has, so it's brilliant."
Coach Chris Gibbes has gone for speed and mobility in selecting both Blain and Lam with other openside specialist Ray Allen injured, Jordan Smiler suspended, Sione Lauaki injured and Dominiko Waqaniburotu just back from injury and sent to the Waikato Development team to get some match fitness in tomorrow's curtainraiser.
"It's an opportunity just to get out there and get my head buried in it," Blain said.
"And obviously to try and pinch a bit of ball, which is my role really, so I'll just go out and try and have some fun as well and just take the opportunity with both hands."
The breakdowns following the tackle was a disastrous area for Waikato last week in Christchurch, with a stream of ball turned over after it was taken into the tackle on attack.
But Blain said the team had trained well this week, had addressed the problems and were raring to go.
Meanwhile Tokula, 24, can't wait for his first chance to start at this level at centre after some appearances on the wing late last season and again off the bench this season.
The New Zealand Sevens representative will be up against three sevens team-mates in Zar Lawrence, Nigel Hunt and Solomon King as added incentive but he just wants to show what he can do in his favoured position after finally overcoming injuries that included a broken hand and torn hamstring.
Ad Feedback "I've been playing centre since I started playing rugby but this is going to be a different atmosphere and a lot of pressure for me. Hopefully it goes well," Tokula said.
"The sevens have really helped me out a lot this year in terms of fitness and speed; they've really built me up so hopefully this week I'll go all right."
TEAMS
Waikato: Sosene Anesi, Tim Mikkelson, Save Tokula, Callum Bruce, Dwayne Sweeney, Sam Christie, David Bason, Jack Lam, Matt Blain, Liam Messam (c), Romana Graham, Kevin O'Neill, Nathan White, Ole Avei, Hikairo Forbes. Res: Vern Kamo/Lionel Wairau, Ben May/Latu Talakai, Toby Lynn, Kent Fife, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Trent Renata, Henry Speight.
Bay of Plenty: Zar Lawrence, Nigel Hunt, Cory Aporo, Phil Burleigh, Jason Hona, Mike Delany, Junior Poluleuligaga, Colin Bourke (c), Luke Braid, Solomon King, Culum Retallick, Mark Burman, James McGougan, John Pareanga, Josh Hohneck. Res: Dean Elmiger, Ted Tauroa, John Moore, Zak Hohneck, Nick McCashin, Wayne Hughson, Toby Arnold.
