Flanker keen to take his chance

When Onosai Tololima-Auva'a describes the last few months as a blur, you know where he's coming from.

The young Auckland flanker's year began in Gordon Tietjens' sevens squad and a trip to Melbourne for the Commonwealth Games. A gold medal round the neck? That'll do nicely.

Then there was the callup to the Blues bench for the match against the Bulls on March 31 at Eden Park.

When Angus Macdonald's knee fell apart early on, Tololima-Auva'a was in action.

The next week he started against the Stormers and, finishing with a handful of appearances, seemed to have made a decent fist of an unexpected callup.

Then there was the New Zealand Colts and their world championship in France and tomorrow night, he has his second Air New Zealand Cup start of the year against Bay of Plenty at Eden Park, with first choice Daniel Braid getting a chance for some R'n'R after a tough night against Canterbury.

"My goal was to get into the Auckland squad. It has been a bit of a blur, but I'm just taking all the opportunities I can get," he said yesterday.

His only other cup start this season was against Wellington, when he scored Auckland's only try in an unimpressive 14-11 loss in the capital, although he also began the pre-season game against Samoa in Apia.

Tololima-Auva'a acknowledges the frustrations of trying to squeeze ahead of a former All Black who's having a pretty decent campaign. Indeed Braid was outstanding in the thrilling loss to Canterbury. "It can get frustrating because with Braidy there it's not knowing if you're going to get on the field. This week I've got a chance and know I have time on the field and have to use it the best I can."

But mingled in there's also a large measure of respect for Braid, and the 21-year-old knows there's plenty of learning to be done in the Auckland environment.

"And knowing there's a player of such high quality, you kind of feel all right. He's so helpful to me; after games we have a chat about what I could have done better to improve my game."

And he says he's tough on himself, regularly dipping back into the video to analyse elements which need work.

Few players made their start at top level in Super rugby before the national championship. But Tololima-Auva'a reckons he hasn't found too great a distinction in intensity, pointing out the Wellington match was "kind of like a Super 14 game".

This month, the Super 14 squads will be named for next year. It's the sort of subject players prefer to shy away from, even though it's seldom far from their thoughts, which is understandable given its All Black pathway and financial ramifications.

Will Tololima-Auva'a make it? There's a good chance, but if not the draft beckons.

"This is a massive opportunity [to push for Blues selection].

"I had a talk to Tasesa Lavea and he said the Blues coaches really look at the last four or five cup games. This is huge for me."

But first Bay of Plenty beckon. The last time BoP came to Eden Park, they turned Auckland coach Pat Lam into a grumpy man, even though they won 45-27.

At one point, the Bay led 20-6 but Auckland woke up and ran in 39 unanswered points.

Tololima-Auva'a came on for the final quarter, by which time the die was cast. Auckland are overwhelming favourites tomorrow night, but for a young man desperate to make every chance count, it might as well be the final.