Long wait has its rewards for Taranaki flanker

Persistence has paid off for Taranaki flanker Adrian Wyrill.

Having long been a dominant figure in Taranaki club rugby, Wyrill’s opportunities in the Taranaki jersey have been few and far between since he made his debut in the ITM Cup semifinal in Christchurch in 2012.

After he spurned offers to join other unions, Wyrill’s decision to stay was rewarded this year with a full provincial contract.

Now he’s repaying the faith put in him with some excellent performances, none more so than Wednesday night when he came off the bench to set up a try with a kick before crashing over himself to give Taranaki a 46-25 win over Manawatu¯ at Yarrow Stadium.

‘‘It’s not bad, really,’’ Wyrill said post-match.

‘‘I thought the boys did most of the work and we just had to come on and finish it off really.’’

Wyrill said the rewards of staying in Taranaki were now obvious.

‘‘It is quite special, especially for myself. It’s been a long time being here and for it to happen like this, it’s a dream really. You can’t ask for much more, not everyone gets to play in a Ranfurly Shield match like that.’’

The angles he ran, the turnovers he made and the through kick that was so expertly finished by fellow replacement Kylem O’Donnell drew praise from Taranaki coach Colin Cooper after the match.

But Wyrill said he thought he had initially put too much weight on the kick.

While only 25, Wyrill has become a relatively senior figure in the squad, a group he said was tight from the outset.

‘‘All the leaders in the group, they have got a lot of experience coming from Super Rugby, and their class and they way they bring it down to the young boys has created a good culture and I think that’s what brings us closer, we’re able to dig deep.

‘‘It’s just a relaxed feeling within the group. The leaders aren’t clipping our wings, too, so if you want to do stuff, you feel like you can and I think that’s good for the team as well.’’

Taranaki have now won more round robin matches (eight) than they have at any other time under the current Mitre 10 Cup format and Wyrill put that success down to the clarity the players have been able to get over the space of the season.

‘‘Sixty per cent of it is clarity and the rest is actual work so that’s probably what’s working for us.’’

PHOTO: ANDY JACKSON/STUFF Taranaki wing Waisake Naholo scores a spectacular try in the corner during their successful Ranfurly Shield defence against Manawatu.

PHOTO: ANDY JACKSON/STUFF Taranaki flanker Adrian Wyrill had a hand in both of Taranaki’s final two tries as they defended the Ranfurly Shield against Manawatu.