Hemopo back in frame for ABS
If all goes well tomorrow, Manawatu¯ forward Jackson Hemopo could be winging his way to Argentina with the All Blacks on Friday.
He has been named to play from the reserves against Tasman in Palmerston North at the All Blacks’ request in light of the shoulder injury to All Black Liam Squire.
Hemopo injured his knee during the Highlanders’ Super Rugby quarterfinal and was planning to come back against Wellington on Sunday. His most recent game was with the All Blacks in the game of three halves at Christchurch on August 10.
‘‘I came back too early,’’ he said. ‘‘At the time I wasn’t too sure what was wrong with the knee.’’
It was later diagnosed as cartilage strain and bone bruising and while not 100 per cent restored, he got through training on Monday.
‘‘I’m looking forward to playing. I just want the game time to be honest. I hate watching from the sidelines.’’
He said he was literally on the edge of his seat at Wellington on Saturday night watching the test match – until the seat broke beneath his 113kg frame.
Hemopo has played a few games on the blindside flank for the Highlanders and at Palmerston North Boys’ High School he was a No 6 and No 8 before lock became his slot.
‘‘I´ am learning my role watching Liam Squire and Shannon Frizell, who is a powerful ball runner.’’
All three are Highlanders and Squire also emerged from Boys’ High.
Hemopo could easily have gone the basketball route, as did his lookalike, Oklahoma Thunder megastar Steven Adams.
‘‘I played basketball against him a few times,’’ Hemopo recalled, as a forward in clashes with Scots College and Rotorua rep teams.
Hemopo’s name is on the Boys’ High honours board for more than 100 games of premier basketball. Meanwhile, Nehe Milner-skudder hasn’t been released for Mitre 10 rugby so is likely to fly out with the All Blacks. Exhaustion has prompted the coaches to rest Turbos players with the Wellington game looming on Sunday.
Getting time off are centre Rob Thompson, lock Nick Crosswell, No 8 Brice Henderson and flanker Liam Mitchell.