Crusaders’ other Fijian flyer back
Manasa Mataele was doing crazy-good things for the Crusaders before blowing out his knee last February.
He’d not long produced a scarcely believable offload to set up Richie Mo’unga in a rout of the Hurricanes in Christchurch, and was arguably the form wing through the first couple of rounds of Super Rugby last year.
Then his knee buckled. The 23-year-old wing suffered a season-ending injury, one that required eight months’ rehabilitation.
Almost a year on from the blow, a noticeably trimmer Mataele is set to complete his return today, when he lines up in a preseason match against the Hurricanes in Ashburton.
‘‘I’ve just been thinking about it [the journey] the last few weeks,’’ he said. ‘‘I was on the field looking at everyone else.
‘‘Most of the time the last eight months, it’s just been me by myself, in the gym, running on the sides. It’s just good to be back out there with the boys doing everything, not limited from anything.’’
It was Mataele’s injury that opened the door for Sevu Reece to take Super Rugby by storm. He scored the first of his competition-leading 15 tries a fortnight after Mataele’s injury, before becoming a first-choice All Black.
The return of Mataele bolsters an already stacked outside backs group.
In addition to Reece and utility Braydon Ennor, it also includes George Bridge, David Havili, Will Jordan, and Leicester Faingaanuku.
Now in his fourth season with the franchise, the explosive Mataele has stripped three kilograms off his frame, dropping his playing weight to 103kg.
‘‘That was one of my weakness, especially with the nutrition side of things, especially with my body type,’’ Mataele said. ‘‘Coming through the pre-season, the last eight months, I’ve really learnt how to eat properly, recover well and push myself to the limits that I know I can.’’
Mataele leaned on former Crusaders Tim Bateman, Israel Dagg and Ryan Crotty while he slogged through his recovery in the background during last year’s third straight title run. He also had the support of uncle Seta Tamanivalu, who helped the
Crusaders win the 2017 and 2018 titles, before leaving for France.
‘‘He messaged me straight away after I got injured . . . he said whatever the outcome is, just accept it and he’s always going to be there for me if I need someone to talk to,’’ Mataele said.
‘‘I didn’t know how to react to it. When it happened, I was just sitting there. I didn’t know what to expect, how should I feel? I was obviously a bit down.’’
That’s a far cry from Mataele’s attitude now that he’s come out the other side of a vigorous rehabilitation.
‘‘I’ve shared this with a couple of the boys. It’s probably the best thing that’s happened to me. I’ve learned more about myself than I ever did. Just about how I could push myself individually without anyone else being there for me.
‘‘I’ve learned how to be better. I’ve always had that self doubt as a person, even coming up the last few years, but the last eight months has helped me deal with whatever is coming my way.’’
With 16 tries and 23 caps to his name, Mataele now feels lighter, faster and stronger than ever before.
He ran freely and with explosiveness during the team’s training sessions open to media this week, and is so confident his knee is ready to go he will not strap it on today. Mataele, like the rest of the players named in the two XVs coach Scott Robertson has named, is expected to play 40 minutes against the Hurricanes.
Attitude and an injury-free afternoon in Ashburton is about as far as Robertson’s wish list goes. ‘‘First thing you do is you look at the physio and he gives you a wink if everything is all right, then you look at the scoreboard. It’s probably that way around.’’