It's not unusual for Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby fans to cheer on opponents of the Hurricanes.
With the likes of Israel Dagg and Zac Guildford at the Crusaders and Andrew Horrell, Ben Tameifuna, Hika Elliot, Kane Thompson, Brodie Retallick, Mo Schwalger and Sona Taumalolo along with former Magpies co-coach Tom Coventry at the Chiefs in recent seasons Magpies fans have had every right to support opponents of "their" franchise.
While Magpies and All Black prop Ben Franks will start for the Canes against the Highlanders in the capital tonight and Magpies hooker Ash Dixon is poised for a stint off the pine expect Magpies fans at the Cake Tin to be more vocal than normal for the visitors. Magpies utility back Richard Buckman has been on fire as a right winger for the Highlanders while Magpies hooker Ged Robinson and Bay age group product and new Magpies loosie Gareth Evans have been doing everything possible during their appearances off the bench to push for starting XV appearances.
Buckman's form has been so hot he can feel slightly hard done by with his omission from the All Blacks extended squad named earlier this week. I have no doubt he must have featured on the All Black selectors radar earlier this season.
However his Highlanders teammate and centre Malakai Fekitoa deserved to get the nod ahead of Buckman. The opportunities Fekitoa is creating for Buckman is one of the reasons the Argyll East School and Napier Boys High School product has been performing so well.