SUPER 14 - Vainikolo scores place with plan

IT IS early enough in the burgeoning career of rugby winger Fetu Vainikolo for life to remain quite simple.
But if the Northland try-scoring machine's pre-season form is any indication, then life might just get a little crazy for the 23-year-old now his Super 14 career is about to kick off with the Highlanders.
By executing a cunning but deviously simple pre-season training ethic, Vainikolo has forced his way into the starting line-up for the opening game against the Reds in Brisbane tonight.
"I just made sure that every time we did anything I wasn't last," Vainikolo said.
"I just turn up to training and go hard out and try to show everyone I am here to learn and play rugby."
It's paid good dividends.
His coach, Steve Martin, reckons Vainikolo has been so focused in training that his selection was almost mandatory. His impressive statistics from the number-crunching department on the analysis machines has even got the Highlanders' coaches devising some tactics to suit.
"Fetu (Vainikolo) has showed the sort of character that we were looking for when we started the selection process," Martin said.
"We wanted players who were fighters, players who would battle for every inch, no matter what the situation. Fetu showed in the pre-season game against the Blues that he had that sort of fighting characteristic," he said.
"He has real power in close contact and we think with the way we aim to play the game we will use his power. Under the new rules, once you break the line the door is open down the middle, that is where we would like to see Fetu getting involved."
That might be why Vainikolo is so fired-up about his debut tonight. It has been quite a year for the Tongan-born winger, considering that, this time last year, his biggest rugby assignment had been a starring role in a club sevens tournament in Whangarei.
"I just can't wait for the game. I am trying not to think about it too much, but I just can't help it. I am buzzing ... hard out."
He isn't alone when it comes to pre-match excitement. His family, mostly based in Auckland, are enthused, and already Otago locals are whispering his name over pints of the sponsor's finest.