Rugby: Motivated to mongrel up

Tolu Fahamokioa will make his ITM Cup starting debut for the Magpies tomorrow.

We all know what happens when blokes get together at school reunions.

There's plenty of bravado, hilarity and sometimes a little bit more mongrel is displayed by some who under normal circumstances wouldn't rage it up.

Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby prop Tolu Fahamokioa will have an extra incentive to mongrel up when he makes his first ITM Cup starting XV appearance for the side in tomorrow's sixth-round clash and Ranfurly Shield defence against the Bay of Plenty Steamers at Napier's McLean Park.

"Solomona [Sakalia], who was a starting prop ahead of me at Wellington College, is starting for the Steamers. A lot of the boys we were mates with at Wellington College are coming to watch us smash each other up," Fahamokioa said after yesterday's training.

The Hurricane, who is in the first season of a two-year contract with the Magpies, had to make a slow start to the campaign after fracturing his foot in the first shield defence of the season against Wairarapa Bush. He has gradually built his minutes up as a substitute since the second-round match against Otago.

"The body is feeling good and the plan is to put up my hand and make that No1 jersey mine," Fahamokioa said.

"There is a bit of depth and everyone pushes each other to be better which is a win-win situation for everybody," Fahamokioa said, referring to the competition among the Magpies frontrowers.

A former trainee nurse and teacher aide, Fahamokioa is a fulltime professional rugby player these days and he has no regrets about making the move from Wellington at the start of the season.

"With the Magpies it's more of a brotherhood than a team. Everyone gets on well with each other and I'm happy to be in that sort of environment."

While he has plenty of knowledge on Sakalia, he has also watched the Steamers' games in recent weeks.

"It's important we take advantage of what we have learned and keep going forward rather than backwards. Our loss to Canterbury last weekend was unfortunate but we will bounce back this weekend."

Fahamokioa's replacing of Brendon Edmonds at loosehead prop is one of six changes Magpies head coach Craig Philpott has made to his starting XV. Edmonds replaces Jarvy Aoake at tighthead prop, Mark Abbott returns to lock, replacing Sanaila Waqa, Tony Lamborn replaces Abbott at blindside flanker, Tom Stanley replaces Lamborn on the openside and Richard Buckman returns from injury to replace Jonah Lowe at centre.

Changes on the pine see world champion Baby Blacks hooker Ricky Riccitelli replace Mikey Sosene-Feagai, Jason Long replace Fahamokioa, Aoake replace Mark Braidwood, Waqa replace Stanley and Trent Boswell-Wakefield replace Kaleb Sweet.

Philpott resisted the temptation to start Robbie Fruean after his blockbusting stint off the pine against the Cantabs. He said Fruean's minutes are still being built up after his lengthy injury spell.

Fruean will earn his Magpies blazer if he plays 21 minutes tomorrow, while winger Shannan Chase earned his after the Christchurch trip.

Former Magpie Tino Nemani will start at centre for the Steamers and former Taradale prop Siegfried Fisi'ihoi is likely to get game time off the pine for the visitors.

Hawke's Bay Rugby Union commercial manager Jay Campbell said 6000 tickets have already been sold and he was confident 8000 fans would attend the Battle of the Bays at the "family-friendly time."