Hammington tames Lions
‘‘Ahead of it all [the Highlanders game against the Lions] I didn't think too much about it but now I'm stoked to have started in what was such a historic game.’’
Life for Kayne Hammington, a Lions slaying Highlander, couldn’t be rosier.
The former Upper Hutt and, all too briefly, Wellington halfback is on top of his game and enjoying opportunities at the Super and international rugby level.
With All Black supremo Aaron Smith unavailable to play the British and Irish Lions, Hammington took his understudy role to new levels.
The 26-year-old more than matched Rhys Webb, the proven Welsh scrum half, with an almost faultless game featuring his mix of off-the-deck and dive passing, judicious box kicks and belying his size, big defence.
‘‘Rhys is a good player. He really sold me with that sideline dummy too,’’ Hammington said without mentioning how he then got back to make a crucial tackle to snuff the move out.
With only one start for the Highlanders in his debut 2017 season [away to the Force in Perth], Hammington loved each of his 76 minutes against the Lions
‘‘Ahead of it all I didn’t think too much about it but now I’m stoked to have started in what was such a historic game.
‘‘The body is back to normal now,’’ he said almost a week after the biggest game of his career. ‘‘I’m not used to playing that long and there was a fair bit of cramping in those last 15 minutes.’’
‘‘It was a great night. .... and I met up with a couple of the Welsh guys from the game against the Chiefs last year.’’
The Chiefs took that game as Hammington enjoyed a nine minute cameo to claim the first of what is now two international scalps.
A former New Zealand under20 player, he had to make some big decisions chasing his professional rugby dream. After just nine games over two seasons for Wellington he moved to Manawatu in 2014 where he remains on contract.
After Super Rugby fringe status with the Chiefs [twice called into the squad mid-season] he was satisfied to pick up his two-year Highlanders opportunity.