RUGBY: There's only one Arizona

SHANE HURNDELL
New Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby prop Arizona Taumalolo could easily be accused of using two names to have two chances of breaking into the team.
"No way ... you blokes have just found out my real name," laughed Taumalolo who has been playing his club rugby under his nickname Sona Tafuna for the past two seasons.
The Clive club player has made considerable progress in his first season as a frontrower after switching from No.8 and will get game time off the bench when the Kelt Capital Magpies play North Harbour B in a pre-NPC hit out at Hamilton's Te Rapa club tomorrow.
Taumalolo, 23, rates his Magpies selection as a highlight of his rugby career which included playing for Tonga at the 2000 Under-19 World Cup in France which New Zealand won.
"There will be no more club rugby league now," said Taumalolo who played league for Pacifika in the province's senior B league competition last year after his one and only club rugby outing for Napier Technical.
A former Auckland under-21 representative, Taumalolo can play both propping positions but prefers tighthead. He arrived in New Zealand from Tonga in 2001 and works as a pelletmaker at Tumu Timbers.
Magpies coach Brendon Ratcliffe said Taumalolo still has a lot to learn technically but for a fresh frontrower has plenty of explosive raw power.
"I know Mike (New Zealand Rugby Football Union's scrummaging expert Mike Cron) is excited about his set up," Ratcliffe said.
Ratcliffe knows nothing about the North Harbour line-up his troops will face but will be disappointed if the Magpies don't display improvement on their last performance - a 50- 12 loss to Taranaki B in Hawera.
Three players in his starting XV, Taradale first five- eighth Daniel Waenga, Central winger Kevin Ward and centre Ben Allen, will be making their first appearances for the Bay at senior level.
Clive captain and flanker Karl Lowe, Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports captain and first five-eighth Aayden Clarke and Taradale lock Reon Watts are all unavailable for the trip because of injuries.
Three other Magpies NPC squad members, Tamatea fullback Donovan Nepia, Hastings Rugby and Sports midfield back Hayden Lafaele and Taradale prop Ian Baty will play for the Hawke's Bay Development side against the Hawke's Bay Under-20s at Ellwood Park today.