Mose and Sam's high school reunion

By CHRIS RATTUE

Mose Tuiali'i and Sam Tuitupou have been mates since they were teenagers. Great mates.

They attended Kelston Boys High together, played age-grade rugby league in the same club side, and, more recently, joined the same central city church.

In a happy piece of sports timing, they were also named in their first All Black squad together on Wednesday.

It was something of a Kelston Boys High reunion. Tuiali'i, Tuitupou and Mils Muliaina were all at the school at the same time.

Muliaina and Tuitupou have long been rated stars of the future, but the 23-year-old Tuiali'i - who switched from fullback to the forwards while at Kelston - has been more of a late developer.

An older Kelston old boy, Kees Meeuws, is also in the All Black side coached by the school's famous former headmaster, Graham Henry (yet another ex-Kelston student, Sione Lauaki, also played in the trial).

Although neither Tuitupou nor Tuiali'i may figure in Henry's first test squad to play England, they could play a big part in future plans.

At one point they might have been headed for rugby league careers. Both still like to watch the other code, and recall fondly their time in the Te Atatu under-15 and under-16 teams coached by Walter Paul, father of Kiwis Henry (who is also an English rugby international) and Robbie Paul.

However, Tuiali'i and Tuitupou's paths were influenced by their time at Kelston. which has become something of a rugby powerhouse.

More than any other player in the 26-man squad, Tuiali'i has been picked on potential. He was outgunned by Xavier Rush in the trial, although Tuiali'i was disadvantaged in having been out of action for three weeks, serving a suspension for a heat-butt on Stormers centre Marius Joubert.

As head-butts go, it was about a one out of 10, but Tuiali'i still carries remorse.

For one, it could have wrecked his All Black trial and prospects. And he's also upset about how the public will now perceive him.

"I'm worried that people will think that I'm a pretty violent person. What happened does not reflect my true character," said Tuiali'i, shortly after his selection.

"It's something I've learned from and definitely something I will never do again."


The dilemma over Tuiali'i, who has also played at blindside flanker, is just how the selectors choose to develop his game.

Forwards coach Steve Hansen made it quite clear that Rush had pushed his way in front of Tuiali'i as the starting No. 8.

"We've got a young man and an older man to be fair," Hansen said.

"Xavier yesterday showed all his experience [in the trial] and probably at this stage he's fractionally ahead of Mose."

Henry has said that Tuiali'i's skill, explosive speed, quick hands, ability to pass the ball in the tackle, and his lineout skill were the factors which won him the trial.

"We see some raw ingredients there which are very impressive," Henry said.

Based on traditional bench selections, openside Marty Holah and lock/loose forward Jono Gibbes are the natural forward replacement choices along with a prop and hooker, although Gibbes might win a start. If Jerry Collins is ranked ahead of Tuiali'i, it will be difficult for the newcomer to find a place in the 22.

So after his meteoric rise, Tuiali'i - who has signed for Canterbury after this season - faces an uncertain remainder to the year.

He may get limited All Black chances, and then returns to Auckland where Rush will also be in his path, with a host of other loose forwards more accustomed to playing at blindside where Tuiali'i can also play. The end-of-year tour games against Italy, France, Wales and the Barbarians may be where Henry and Hansen can really develop Tuiali'i's potential. Time will tell.

The 22-year-old Tuitupou, who captained the New Zealand Colts to World Cup victory last year, faces no such problems at his home province. If Tuitupou is fit, he's in.

A schoolboy wrestling champion, he is an 86kg ball of power and energy.

At the moment, the national selectors rate him behind Dan Carter at second five-eighths.

Tuitupou is one of a kind, an explosive player who crashes the ball straight ahead and smashes opponents in defence.

He has had an extraordinary effect on the Auckland and Blues teams, to the point that their worst performances are invariably when he is absent.

Whether he has the tactical nous, and kicking game, is the question, but if he does, then the All Blacks have a dynamic prospect.

He kicked twice during the trial - the first time many can remember him using his boot - after the selectors asked him to work on that side of his game.

Henry and co. have Muliaina and Carter in mind as the back-up to Tana Umaga at centre. And if the All Blacks consider Carter's long-term future may be at centre, or first five-eighths for that matter, then Tuitupou could get an even better chance to nail a test place down.

There is also a strong body of thought that Carlos Spencer and Carter do not combine well, whereas Spencer appears to relish playing alongside Tuitupou.

In a classic bit of nouveau coach-speak, All Black backs coach Wayne Smith said he disliked the "tyranny of 'or"' when asked to compare Tuitupou and Carter.

There were parts of Tuitupou's game that Carter could learn from, and vice versa, he said. It would indeed be an extraordinary combination of player, but for now Smith does have to choose and Carter, who is also a top goalkicker, has the strong inside running.