Gearing up for chance of glory

Rico Gear

Although the Blues and Auckland scythed through the first year of professional rugby in 1996, it was not a time to content themselves with their considerable resources.

On one scouting trip coach Graham Henry spied a pony-tailed teenage speedster playing for third division Poverty Bay, whose skills and flair caught his eye.

An invitation was offered and the following year, as the Blues went through their training and games in the second season of Super 12, Rico Gear got a look-and-learn lesson in pro rugby.

He was intimidated by meeting men like Michael Jones, Craig Dowd and Olo Brown, but liked the concept of playing rugby for a career.

The deal was done and he was signed to play for Auckland in the 1998 NPC.

"Graham asked me to try my hand but when I got there he had left for Wales," Gear recalled. "But at least I had my foot in the door and had to try to make my way through the scene after that."

Henry called up Gear for his first test last year and has picked the wing for tomorrow's test, his fourth international.

"There are so many good players that guys are always going to miss out, but I get a crack this week and it will be great."

Gear will mark light-stepping Welsh wing Shane Williams, who confirmed his place in the Lions side with a five-try blitz against Manawatu.

"I played a little bit against him in the Maori game. He is a slippery character and great on his feet so I will have to make sure he is tackled first up," said Gear. "I just have to be aware of where he is. We have an idea of how he plays and he is probably going to step you so it is important we keep our balance and the inside guys help out.

"For us it is important we get our lines right for that type of player and not get square on them," he said. "Lines are just as important as being aggressive in the tackle and it is something Ted [Henry] emphasises a lot.

"Having guys like Tana Umaga certainly helps as well."

Gear's brother Hosea and parents Riki and Anne will be at the Cake Tin for the test, the greatest assignment of Gear's fledgling international career.

The 27-year-old Gear, like many New Zealanders, has watched the Lions intently to see what sort of style they would bring to New Zealand.

"It is different from the Super 12 and we have to adapt. They use the whole field, can attack from anywhere, are not afraid to put the wide kicks into space and look to dominate in the forwards.

"There has been a lot of kicking but they also have the talent to shift the ball."

Gear had expected to see more of the Welsh flair which won them the Six Nations. But he pointed out that the selection of Jonny Wilkinson also meant they would kick a fair chunk of possession for territory.

"I guess they can use both types of game in this test so it will be interesting."

He had some sympathy for the Lions at Christchurch in a match he said was played in the worst conditions he had experienced.

Gear was shocked when he was picked ahead of Doug Howlett for Wellington.

The coaches had made much of the All Black backline luxuries with five players - Howlett, Gear, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Joe Rokocoko and Ma'a Nonu - hunting selection on the wing. They were not afraid to juggle their choices.

"There is certainly no room for complacency, with that amount of depth," Gear said. "It is important to take your opportunity - there's always someone knocking."

Forecast fine weather would be great and the All Blacks would continue to give the ball some air to try to breach the Lions.

Test selection had vindicated Gear's latest shift to Nelson Bays and the Crusaders.

"It was a hard decision at the time but the opportunities were there down south," he said.

He saw little point stagnating behind Rokocoko and Howlett at the Blues, and needed to shift to forge a reputation elsewhere.

And how. His record try-scoring with the Crusaders, his improved range of skills such as the grubber kick in the Super 12 final and tidy defence caused Henry to label him the competition's form player.

"There are a lot of ups and downs in rugby and for me there have been a lot of injuries and disruptions along the way.

"But we talked about the Lions briefly when we toured Europe last year, so we have been building up to it and it will be the highlight of my career this weekend."

There had been signs then of the growing fervour about the Lions tour and now he's part of it, it is a superb feeling.

Rico Gear

Height1.81m
Weight 92kg
Born: February 26, 1978, Gisborne
Position: Wing
Test debut: v Pacific Islanders, July 2004
Tests: 3
Tries: 1
Province: Nelson Bays