RUGBY - Shield custodian White looks back on a satisfying career

When Nick White plied his trade as a prop forward for Northland he was known predominantly as a loosehead prop who not only knew how to pack down a scrum but could also land long-range penalty kicks.
That was way back in 1999. The next year he transferred to Auckland and has since played Super 14 rugby for the Blues, Crusaders and Highlanders while establishling himself as a key senior member of the Auckland provincial outfit.
These days he is the custodian of the Ranfurly Shield, which Auckland won this season.
But White is still a proud Northlander who fondly recalls his time growing up on the family farm at Maungakaramea. White travelled north with the Shield last week for a visit to home turf at Tauraroa Area School.
It might be as close as Northland will get to holding the Shield for a long time but it provided a chance to catch up with White, who is about to start his eighth season of Super 14 rugby with the Blues.
Q: When you stop and think about it, you would not have imagined that, in 2008, you would still be playing professional rugby would you?
A: No. I was talking to my wife Nicky saying I wouldn't have thought I would still be going at 33-34 years old. But certainly I'll make the most of it - hopefully the team wins the bloody thing.
Q: Don't you like the Chiefs, you seem to have been everywhere else?
A: And the Hurricanes, I haven't been to the Hurricanes either. I'll stick here now, I don't think I'll go anywhere else now. There's no need.
Q: Is there a franchise you wouldn't play for?
A: Oh, ummm ... no. You can't say you wouldn't play for anyone. The times I have gone to the Highlanders and to the Crusaders you meet new people, you always learn a couple of new things, you are never training at the same old places so it is fresher in some ways. So you never say no, but at my age I think I'll stay in one place.
Q: What do you reckon it is, your ability as a goal kicker that gets you in these teams?
A: I wish. They won't give me a kick any more. I think it's the last four or five years playing tighthead as a back up is the only reason I am here.
Q: It seems to be a good trade to have, tighthead prop?
A: For sure, if you can play both sides of the scrum it helps, but if I was only a loosehead I would be battling to be here. Having that experience on both sides of the scrum helps quite a lot.
Q: Do you still line up the odd kick at training or have you retired the golden boot?
A: Oh yeah, there's always a few kicks at training, and I nailed a few for my club team this season, but it takes me so bloody long to warm up now it's not worth it.
Q: You might be the secret weapon for the drop goal now the drop goal is back in fashion?
A: Yeah well with Auckland there were a lot of boys having a crack, but then whether any of the boys have the guts to try and pull it off in a game is a different story.
Q: Having Northlander Bronson Murray come into the Blues is someone new, you would not have come across Bronson much before would you?
A: Not in the same team. I think when I left Northland he came in the year after. It is fantastic for him, again being able to play both sides of the scrum helps ... I think it is going to be a good Blues side, a few young guys a few oldies, it's all good.