Giant Jafa rolls with punches

By WYNNE GRAY

Derren Witcombe can point to the old adage about sticks, stones and names.

The 24-year-old Auckland hooker has learned to cope with jibes throughout his life so there has been no drama about his switch to play rugby for the NPC champions.

At various stages of his life Witcombe has coped with taunts about his heritage, his size and now his decision to live in the City of Sails.

Like Blues team-mate Justin Collins, Witcombe was born in Hobart before the family returned to Northland when he was about 10.

The youngster took the odd chip about being an Ocker and while his mother occasionally barracks for Australia, Witcombe says he is a true-blue Kiwi.

He was also into cricket before rugby demanded his full time attention. Witcombe was good enough to be a wicketkeeper-batsman for Northland B although he describes his batting as more like bashing.

He can mock his own ability and went along with all the gags about his being too big to keep.

"Yeah, I was a big bloke to do the job but I had always been a keeper so it was not too hard," he said.

At 1.85m and 109kg, Witcombe was no nimble Brendan McCullum but he got the job done, even agreeing it was his version of aerobics as he went through squat sessions behind the stumps.

"It was a good way of keeping supple and a great sport for hand-eye co-ordination," Witcombe said.

Away from cricket, Witcombe got his chance to make it in rugby two years ago when regular Northland hooker Jason Hammond broke his jaw.

Witcombe's work impressed Blues coach Peter Sloane enough to draft the hooker into his 2002 squad with Slade McFarland - ahead of current All Black hooker Keven Mealamu.

The progress did not stop there. Witcombe played 11 games in his debut Super 12 year and kept McFarland on the bench for large chunks of the season.

Witcombe's next NPC campaign was not so successful as he struggled with a groin injury but he did make the Blues again this season with Mealamu reinstated as hooker.

"At the start of the year it might have been close in selections between us but once Keven got going he was awesome," Witcombe said.

"I admire what he has done. He played so well for the Blues and has been playing out of his skin for the All Blacks."

Witcombe managed only one start for the Blues this year but knew that was no slur when he trailed the outstanding work of Mealamu. The pair worked hard together practising the range of skills a hooker needs in the modern game.

He went to Eden Park last weekend to see his mate's man of the test performance as the All Blacks regained the Bledisloe Cup from the Wallabies. It reinforced a decision Witcombe made a few months back.

In a deal between franchise provincial partners, Witcombe came to Auckland as others like James Arlidge and Mose Tuiali'i helped Northland with some of their positional shortfalls.

With Mealamu a certainty to miss most of the NPC because of his All Black commitments, Witcombe decided to shoot for his job.

"I wanted to advance my career in a progressive environment and with Keven likely to be away for a huge chunk of the season, it seemed a great chance to learn more from a strong setup," he said.

"It was a big decision but it is all about trying to move my career along."

That decision brought the anticipated verbals from his mates up north.

"I braced myself for it but I knew I was not the first to do this. There have been Justin Collins and Nick White before me. I got all the stuff about becoming a Jafa, hitting the bright lights, going to the big smoke for the dough."

Witcombe made the first Auckland lineup last week against Otago and after some wobbly scrums in the first half, the tight work improved.

"But we need to make it much better this week.

"This will be my first Battle of the Bridge against good hookers like Joe Ward and Slade McFarland."