Super 12

Sports

Pacific superstars provide

Super 12 its gloss

BY Atama Raganivatu

For three months, commencing on

February 28, Southern Hemisphere

rugby union fans will be absorbed in the Super 12 extravaganza.

As last year, the tournament’s organis ers have rejected the appeals by Fiji, Tonga and Western Samoa for inclusion and the same clique of a dozen Australian, New Zealand and South African domestic teams which contested the inaugural event will again monopolise international rugby’s most exhilarating annual compe tition. However, also like 1996, Tongan, Fijian and Western Samoan players are certain to be to the fore right through to the final on May 31 or June 1.

Auckland Blue’s winning squad of a year ago included three Tongans, two Fijians and six Samoans and they will be depending upon a backbone of South Pacific talent this time too.

The Nausori Highlands’ favourite rugby son, Joeli Vidiri, was the 1996 Super 12 Player of the Year and he will be just as eager to defend that title as the Blues are to retain theirs. Eroni Clarke returned to his brilliant best, after a couple of indifferent seasons, last term and an

equally convincing campaign will, surely,

see the Samoan centre regain his All Blacks place.

Tonga’s Charles Riechelmann would almost certainly have been an All Black today but for an extravagant dive while scoring a try during last year’s Super 12 final against Natal. Upon returning to earth, Riechelmann suffered a shoulder injury which sidelined him for the rest of 1996. Now fully fit, the versatile forward will be anxious to make up for lost time.

Riechelmann’s compatriot John Ngauamo has not been as lucky, though.

His ultra-effective tackling when drafted into the Blues’ lineup late in last year’s campaign greatly added to their defensive security. The utility back then suffered an injury and missed much of the subsequent National Provincial Championship pro gramme. Sadly, Ngauamo is still some way from a full recovery and his contri-

bution will be much missed.

The Blues’ third Tongan, the incompa rable Jonah Lomu, will also be absent. A serious kidney disease threatens to end his career and the most optomistic prognosis he received is six months on the sidelines.

But the loss of Lomu will! probably not be as significant as Ngauamo’s in the short term, for the former’s replacement is quicksilver Manu Samoa winger Brian Lima.

Although long recognised as a per former of immense talent on the interna tional scene, Lima, paradoxically, had made little impact on New Zealand domestic rugby until last year when he was Otago Highlanders’ stand-out player in the Super 12 before topping the National Provincial Championship’s try scorer’s chart on Auckland’s left wing.

Charles Reichelmann was widely acclaimed as the revelation of the 1996 Super 12, but Andrew Blowers could not have been far behind in many estimations.

The Samoan loose forward had just eight

first-class games under his belt before donning an Auckland Blues jersey for the first time at the beginning of last year. At the end of it, he could boast two Test caps; both won on the All Blacks’ triumphant tour of South Africa.

Another Samoan, Leo Lafaialii could well prove to be the “Blowers of ’97”.

The versatile 22-year-old forward has made only six appearances for Auckland and is virtually unknown outside “The Queen City”. Those who have observed him in training are confident that will soon change.

Also seeking a change is Fijian back Waisake Sotutu. A member of tbe Blues’ title-winning squad last year, Sotutu found himself not required by them six injury-plagued months later. However, Canterbury Crusaders - 1996’s bottom placed team - quickly offered him a con tract and he is now based in the South Island.

Should Sotutu suffer from homesick ness, it will be alleviated by the presence

Ofahengaue (above), after a disappointing season last year, is back to his 'fighting weight’

Manasa Bari...recruited by Otagao Highlanders, offsetting the team’s losses

alongside him in the Crusaders team of two countrymen. Veteran winger Paula Bale and promising young centre Tabai Matson are also key players in a team that has the potential for a major improvement this season.

The South Island’s other Super 12 rep

resentative, Otago Highlanders, were

affectionately dubbed the Otago Islanders in some quarters last year due to the num ber of Pacific Island players in their colours. This year they have three more.

Brian Lima has been lost to Auckland Blues and former Manu Samoa star Steven Bachop is now with Wellington Hurricanes; but their unavailability has been more than offset by the recruitments of Samoans Pailate Fili, Ace Tiatia and Romi Ropati, Tongan Carl Hoeft and Fiji’s Manasa Bari.

Ropati blossomed into one of New Zealand’s most exciting young talents with Auckland’s NPC combination last season. However, it is left winger Bari

who is expected to the Highlanders’ most potent attacking weapon. Although a national hero at home and an exceptional sevens player, Bari is little known in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

The Highlanders are hoping the element of surprise he provides will be a vital fac tor in at least their opening games.

Wellington Hurricanes have very few unknown quantities, though the team do include several players intent upon enhancing their reputations. Tama Umaga will be particularly keen to display top form and fitness. Several respected com mentators are tipping him to replace the injured Jonah Lomu in the All Blacks squad and, if media reports on his newly found dedication are true, he is capable of

accomplishing that.

Umaga’s fellow Samoan Alama leremia is already in the New Zealand senior squad but has been unable to cement a place in their Test selection. If the rate of improvement from last year

can be maintained, 1997 could well see the breakthrough.

Former Manu Samoa centre Stephen Bachop will be content if he can show he is, at 31 years of age, still capable of foot ing it with the best; Fijian Test prop Bill Cavubati could well prove to be one of the biggest beneficiaries of the new sub stitution laws; and Fala Leiasamaivao has a wonderful opportunity to impress a wider audience with his ability after some storming displays for Western Samoa.

Like Leiasamaivao, Nicky Little has tended to reserve his best form for the international arena and Fiji’s first-five eighth was only drafted into the Waikato Chiefs squad after another player was injured. He will be determined to confirm the woeful performances with Canterbury last year were an aberration. Also appear ing in Waikato’s colours are Nicky’s uncle, Walter Little, the current All Black, and Fijian Test captain Greg Smith.

On the other side of the Tasman Sea, Pacific Island players have yet to make the same impact but the proficiency of three Tongans are likely to have major bearings on the fortunes of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.

New South Wales performed well below par in 1996, due largely to a spate of injuries and several players being off form. Perhaps the most disappointing “non-performer” amongst the Waratahs last year was Willie Ofahengaue.

Overweight and sluggish, “Willie O” greatly disappointed his army of admir ers.

However, the Australian media report he has, thanks largely to a strict diet enforced by his mother, shed 12 kilo grams and is back to his “fighting weight”. Let’s hope they are correct, for world rugby - as well as New South Wales - will be a great deal poorer with out an Ofahengaue firing on all cylinders.

Ofahengaue’s teammate and fellow Tongan Daniel Manu also has much to prove.

He was amongst Australia’s most impressive players during their all-con quering British tour last year until myste riously dropped.

There would be no better way of prov ing Wallabies coach Greg Smith (no rela tion to the Fijian captain) wrong than pro ducing a serious of top-class exhibitions whilst wearing -New South Wales’ colours.

The ACT Drumbies were the first Super 12 surprise packets. Unfortunately, their squad has been severely depleted this year and Ipolito Fenukitau is one of the few players of genuine class remain ing in Canberra.

Pacific Island players, then, will prob ably feature at both the top and bottom of the Super 12 ladder. ■

Jonah Lomu...absent from the Super 12 for medical reasons