Journey south bears fruit in friendly folk and cup rugby
RAY Tatafu wanted to get as far away from Auckland as he could, so Invercargill was the preferred destination.
When he was 14, Tatafu and his family shifted from Tonga to live in New Zealand.
He attended Onehunga College and the lock quickly found himself in the Auckland rugby system.
He wore the blueandwhite hooped jersey from under16 level through the agegroup ranks and on to the Auckland B team.
However, after two years battling away without any luck in cracking Auckland’s Mitre 10 Cup squad, he felt it was time for a fresh start.
A fresh start in a rugby sense and also life in general.
‘‘I wanted to get out of Auckland. I was studying at uni and there was a lot of stuff happening outside of footy, so I decided to get as far away as I could and Invercargill was the spot.
‘‘My brother and older sister still live at home so it was big for me to get out and go away on my own.’’
Tatafu arrived in Invercargill last year and linked with the Blues club in the hope of cracking the Southland Mitre 10 Cup squad.
That wish, however, didn’t come true.
He was back playing B rugby, this time for Southland B.
Many rugby players have come south over the years and a initial setback, in terms of Stags selection, has seen them disappear quickly.
Not Tatafu, though.
The 23yearold remained in Invercargill after last year’s rugby season finished, working for an engineering firm and preparing for another club season with Blues.
Invercargill had quickly become home.
‘‘I loved it. I loved everything about Invercargill. A lot of outdoor activities and everyone is friendly; you feel welcome straight away. I’m not looking to go back [to Auckland] anytime soon.
‘‘It helped with some of the Blues families I stayed with; they were good to me. I got a good job as well through Blues,’’ Tatafu said.
Twelve months on from last year’s disappointment, Tatafu is now living out his Mitre 10 Cup dream.
He came off the bench in the Stags’ opening two games this season and tonight will get his first ever start at Mitre 10 Cup level in the roundthree fixture against Wellington in Wellington.
‘‘It’s been a long time coming. I’m really looking forward to it,’’ he said.
Tatafu has replaced Ben Fotheringham at lock in one of four changes to the Southland starting lineup.
Reuben Northover gets a start at tighthead prop, replac ing Morgan Mitchell, who is out with a shoulder injury.
Northover joins Shaun Stodart and Flynn Thomas in an allMarist front row.
There has been a change at fullback, where Broc Hooper gets a start on the back of Tauasosi Tuimavave being ruled out.
Hooper was initially signed as first fiveeighth cover following injuries to Tayler Adams and Greg Dyer.
Jackson Ormond returns to start on the wing, replacing his brother Lewis Ormond, who drops to the bench and Rory van Vugt drops out of the squad.
Southland fans are also likely to get their first look at midfielder Ray Nu’u, who is named on the bench.
Nu’u has previously been part of the Crusaders’ wider training group and shifted south this year for an opportunity with Southland.
He has missed the first two games because of an ankle injury.
OTAGO coach Ben Herring said he had no hesitation in giving the captaincy to the returning Michael Collins for tomorrow’s game against Manawatu.
Collins, who will play his first game for Otago since 2016, has been named at fullback for the Otago side and will also be the skipper of the blue and golds.
He missed the first two games of the Mitre 10 Cup because of a minor fracture in his cheekbone picked up in the final preseason match.
Herring said Collins was a good fit as captain.
‘‘It’s good to have him for the game and as a captain. He is a natural leader for us and we know what he can do.
‘‘It’s not a hindrance for us,
having your captain at the back. He can handle the job fine while those around him can concentrate on their job.’’
Collins moving to fullback
pushes Vilimoni Koroi on to the right wing and Josh Timu drops out of the squad. Mitchell Scott, who has been troubled by a hamstring injury, covers the outside backs from the bench.
Taieri midfield back Matt Whaanga gets his first start for Otago, having impressed when coming off the bench in the first couple of games.
Herring said Whaanga was getting his reward for those performances and would be looking to keep up that good run of form.
Sio Tomkinson moves out to centre and Matt Faddes comes off the bench. Faddes has been off the pace in the first couple of games and needs to get some spark and accuracy back in his game.
Kurt Hammer also makes his first start in the Otago jersey.
Firstchoice halfback Josh Renton is out for six to eight weeks after fracturing his thumb and it is touch and go whether he will be seen again this season.
Halfback Melani Matavao comes on to the bench.
Herring has opted for a differentlooking loose forward trio with an emphasis on big bodies. Dylan Nel is at No 8, Naulia Dawai is on the openside flank and Sione Misiloi starts on the blindside.
Herring said that for this particular game, the emphasis was to have some ball runners and ball carriers.
Hooker Sekonaia Pole will start at hooker and All Black Liam Coltman is on the bench. Herring said Coltman would look to make an impact at some stage but Pole had played well and deserved the start.
Captain Sam AndersonHeather had a tough physical game last week and needed a break.
With Otago winless after two games, there is a hint of desperation about this match. The side needs to find more thrust in attack and eliminate some basic errors.
Manawatu won its opening game of the season against Waikato but lost heavily to Taranaki last week.
It has All Black winger Nehe MilnerSkudder on the right wing and Highlander Rob Thompson will start at centre.