Auckland kicking ace heads south
Ponsonby’s Willie Talataina-Mu is adjusting to life in Invercargill after signing with Southland for the upcoming 2017 representative rugby season.
The 21-year-old first-five-eighth, who was one of the leading points scorers in the 2017 Auckland club rugby season with 129, will try to break into the provincial scene with the Stags after being on the cusp of the Auckland side in recent seasons.
The former Samoan under-20 and New Zealand under-19 representative has played club rugby alongside the likes of All Blacks Akira and Rieko Ioane, Patrick Tuipulotu and Hurricanes stars Vince Aso and Michael Fatialofa, but has headed south to further his chances of playing in the Mitre 10 Cup.
‘‘It is a bit different from Auckland living life from city to country, but it has been good the boys have been really welcoming with open arms, which is good and I am getting used to the lifestyle down here in Invercargill,’’ he said.
‘‘I think that was the most exciting part of coming down here, just breaking out of my shell and experiencing paying rent and cooking your own food, doing your own laundry and hanging around with the boys after training, not just at training. It is a good challenge.’’
‘‘Up in Auckland I have been fringe for the last couple of years, but I just needed to take that extra step if I wanted to further my rugby career and I had a few talks with the Stags coaches and a few phone calls here and there, they just sold Invercargill to me and sold the Stags brand to me.’’
Talataina-Mu, who can also play in the midfield, has been named in the Southland B squad initially as he looks to get more minutes on the field after his 2015 and 2016 seasons were curtailed by knee injuries, in order to push for a place in the Stags squad during their 2017 campaign.
‘‘First and foremost it is just getting onto the field, staying injury free and doing what I have got to do during the week to pre- pare myself well for Saturday,’’ he said.
‘‘Every team you are part of you want to win a championship, it has got to start with the little things and hopefully the bigger picture comes through, hopefully I can get out there for the Stags this year and play my first bit of rep footy since first year out of high school.’’
The former Auckland Grammar student doesn’t mind which position he is required to play, he is just keen to help the team succeed, and will add precious depth the Southland No 10 stocks, with Lima Sopoaga’s All Blacks commitments uncertain this season and the departure of 2016 pivot Wharenui Hawera.
‘‘So just getting out there, for myself it is where the coaches need me whether it is off the bench or starting or being the waterboy,’’ he said.
‘‘I will do my bit to help the team win the championship, I will do whatever it takes.’’
Talataina-Mu came off the bench as the Southland Spartans toppled the Otago Sassenachs last Sunday as the representative season gets under way.
He shared the kicking duties with Southland Stags squad member Greg Dyer in the victory.
The Southland B team takes on the Southland under-19 team on Saturday, while the Southland Stags play Mid Canterbury in Waikouaiti.