Home sweet home
Mapapalangi enjoys life with Turbos
After a frustrating couple of years without getting a crack, Valentino Mapapalangi has found a home with the Manawatu Turbos.
Manawatu is Mapapalangi’s third province, but the first where he has played in the national provincial championship and the lock will get his third start of the season when the Turbos play Southland at Invercargill tonight.
The 22-year-old had two years in the Auckland academy before heading down the motorway for another two seasons.
‘‘I was in the Waikato system, but didn’t really get picked and the coaches didn’t give me any communication about making the Waikato team,’’ he said. ‘‘Manawatu gave me an opportunity and I took it with two hands.’’
He was in the Waikato development team for two years and was in the Chiefs development side this season, but didn’t a regular spot.
Mapapalangi credited Turbos assistant coach Jeremy Cotter for helping him step up with Manawatu.
‘‘I thought I’d be playing a bit of development rugby before I played ITM Cup,’’ Mapapalangi said. ‘‘But it’s been going well.’’ He came off the bench in his first three games, but got his first start in the loss to Auckland last week and said he is still building his match fitness.
Mapapalangi went to Liston College in Auckland, before going to Sacred Heart College in his final year.
That year they went through the Auckland 1A competition unbeaten, but were upset by Kelston Boys’ High School in the semifinals.
This year he was playing club rugby for Te Awamutu and had been used at No 8, but is seen exclusively as a lock for Manawatu.
He said he was loving the experience with the Turbos and was open to staying on.
Last week’s 42-17 win over Northland helped boost morale and Mapapalangi said they had got straight back into training this week.
‘‘It was finally good to get to play some running footy and get to play all our structures,’’ he said.
Mapapalangi and the rest of the forwards have helped turn their form around since the big loss against Canterbury.
Manawatu have kept the same team to play Southland as the one that thrashed Northland.
It won’t be an easy road trip to Invercargill – where Manawatu have only won six times and and twice since 1993.
Championship side Southland have had only one win and have made few changes from their 30-25 loss against Waikato last weekend.
Brayden Mitchell returns at hooker after a rib injury, pushing Dillan Halaholo to the bench and former New Zealand under20 rep Tausosi Tuimavave will start at fullback ahead of Junior Ngaluafe.
They will still have a strong forward pack with Mitchell, Elliot Dickson, Tim Boys, Josh Bekhuis and Jamie Mackintosh, as well as Highlanders first fiveeighth Lima Sopoanga.