Rayasi faces a golden dilemma
The lure of an Olympic gold medal remains for recalled Hurricanes wing Salesi Rayasi, who insists he’ll delay his decision until after next weekend’s final Super Rugby Aotearoa match.
Rayasi returns to No 11 for his fourth start of the season, against the high-flying Chiefs in Hamilton tomorrow night, as newly re-signed Julian Savea drops out of the 23 in the ongoing wing rotation.
Last year’s leading Mitre 10 Cup tryscorer with 14 for runners-up Auckland, Rayasi has just two for the Canes this year – both in their narrow defeat to the Chiefs in round three.
As he looks to make an impact for the 1-5 Hurricanes in Hamilton, Rayasi also knows he must commit to the Olympic sevens programme in the next fortnight as coach Clark Laidlaw’s squad eye an Australian campaign to prepare for Tokyo in July. His last tournament in the black jersey was in Sydney in February 2020, not long before the world series was put on hold for Covid-19.
Rayasi said the lure of Tokyo was still there, ‘‘in the back pocket’’ but he wasn’t looking past the bottom-placed Hurricanes’ next two matches against the Chiefs and Highlanders.
‘‘I’m just focused on the present and trying to be in that 23 week to week and trying to put my hand up. When I get to that [sevens] situation, I’ll come to a decision,’’ Rayasi said yesterday.
Asked when he needed to commit to sevens, Rayasi said: ‘‘Sometime soon. I know the sevens are getting into full power and they leave for Australia in the next couple of weeks for their trans-Tasman bubble games.’’
It would be a surprise if Rayasi opted out of a potential once-in-a-lifetime chance at the Olympics, which would see him miss TransTasman Super Rugby which starts next month. No doubt he features highly in Laidlaw’s plans and be a major asset.
The 24-year-old, at 193cm and 105kg, has shown glimpses of his dynamic form for the Hurricanes, as coach Holland keeps demanding improvements off the ball.
Said assistant coach Chris Gibbes of Rayasi: ‘‘He’s been going all right, and he’s still a young player with a lot to learn.
‘‘He’s taking his lessons on and he’s got one of the best in the business in Cory Jane teaching him and helping him, and he’s got really good guys with experience around him like Jules [Savea].
‘‘Things take time with these young guys and he’s a super talented kid. We’ve got to make sure we get all the little rough edges off him and he’ll be fine in time.’’
Gibbes saw Rayasi as a potential future All Black, and of his Olympics call: ‘‘There are opportunities, and Olympics come around every four years so you’ve got to look at where guys are in their career cycle. That’s very much an individual discussion he’d need to have with the boss.’’
In the absence of Ardie Savea, out for 6-8 weeks with a knee injury, Dane Coles returns to the captaincy with Du’Plessis Kirifi donning No 7 again.
Ruben Love remains at first-five after a composed debut in the 30-27 loss to the Crusaders, while lock Scott Scrafton is back for Isaia Walker-Leawere.