‘Crockzilla’ ready for a monster challenge
He’s a World Cup winner and Super Rugby’s most-capped player. But despite enjoying his new life as a sports retailer in Nelson, Tasman Mako vice-captain Wyatt Crockett has unfinished business to attend to.
Last night, the 71-test All Black turned retailer played in his first ITM or Mitre 10 Cup playoff match since 2012, as he looked to help Tasman move one step closer to a maiden premiership title by defeating his old province, Canterbury.
Having retired from international and Super Rugby earlier this year, ‘‘Crockzilla’’ is now at the business end of his first season with the Mako.
Crockett said he had relished the new team environment since moving to Nelson in August, from working with Leon MacDonald and his coaching staff to mentoring the junior members of the squad.
‘‘I’ve just enjoyed playing with a great bunch of guys, some of whom haven’t been coached that much before – coming from sides where guys are fully professional and been doing it a long time to guys who are still on their way up and still learning their trade, there’s bits and pieces I can help out on, and I’ve really enjoyed that.’’
He said the team’s sole loss in round-robin play – a 36-10 thumping by Auckland – was just the wakeup call the young squad needed to remind them of the dangers of complacency.
‘‘We’re in a position where we’ve won all but one of our games and we’re in a semifinal – but at the end of the day, we’ll be judged on what we do in the next two weeks.’’
Visiting Crockett at his Stirling Sports store on Trafalgar St on Thursday, Nelson Mayor Rachel Reese said she was looking forward to watching a reversal of last year’s premiership final loss to Canterbury. ‘‘It has been a great season – I think it is going to be an exciting night, and there should be huge crowd.’’
She was picking Tasman to win by ‘‘four to six points’’.
‘‘I’ve just enjoyed playing with a great bunch of guys, some of whom haven’t been coached that much before.’’ Wyatt Crockett