Feeney's star in the ascendant

By WYNNE GRAY

When Blair Feeney trots out on to Eden Park tomorrow, he will carry feelings of sympathy and appreciation.

The sharp-shooting five-eighths will be wearing the dark-blue-and-gold colours of Otago as they try to beat Auckland for the first time at Eden Park since the NPC started, in 1976.

But he will have a few red-white-and-black hopes for his old Counties mates, who are playing at the same time at Pukekohe, in the second division against Mid-Canterbury.

Feeney commiserates with their plight, but it was the thought of staying at that level that pushed the 26-year-old away from his regular habitat.

When Otago came calling, there was little delay.

"I had to move or go overseas, really. I did not want to play second division after six years in the first," he said.

"I was happy with my form at Counties and knew if I could get behind a bigger and better pack I could be compared better to other five-eighths. The move has been excellent for my rugby."

At Carisbrook last week, the value of Feeney's shift shone through as he kicked seven penalties to guide Otago home against Wellington.

It was not always so. During the Super 12, Feeney was rated behind Tony Brown and Willie Walker, and was released to play more club rugby than he had in seasons. Initially, he faced the same player obstacles for the NPC.

"I knew it was going to be pretty hard to crack and I was not too sure of how I would go," Feeney confessed. "A few times I wondered what I had done, but I knew I would be learning more down here."

Then Brown succumbed to a hamstring problem, and with Walker being tried at fullback until he, too, damaged a hamstring, Feeney got the nod.

"The first few games were very important for me. It has been refreshing. I am in the right environment to learn and that was another factor in me making the move."

Feeney had to leave friends and family in the Counties area, but he accepts that as a natural consequence of life as a professional rugby player.

He also left behind a useful cricket career: his batting and offspin bowling had been good enough to get him in the Northern Districts under-18 side.

His cricket is now restricted to some backyard contests with his tighthead prop team-mate and flatmate, Carl Hayman.

Feeney has refined his goalkicking technique, and has trimmed a couple of paces off his run-up. "It was just a simple thing really, and it seems to have improved my distance a little. But the important thing about goalkicking is having the body in good shape, feeling good about your job and finding the rhythm."

Feeney discovered plenty of that last week at Carisbrook. "It was great to kick the winning goal. That was a real buzz, especially when there was a little bit of wind around."

Victories have also been a sweet change from last season.

"I loved Counties and was very proud of what we did there.

"There were great times, like the NPC finals, and lots of lows, lots of tough times. Watching sides such as Northland and Bay of Plenty slog away in division one I feel so lucky to be with Otago."