ITM Cup final: Maitland relishes school reunion

Sean Maitland has been a shrewd investment for Canterbury. Photo / Getty Images

Robbie Deans' fingerprints were all over the move. He and henchman Matt Sexton had been assessing talent at a northern region schools tournament, searching for some candidates to boost their southern rugby resources.

They settled on teenager Sean Maitland as a talented investment.

Maitland had played one game for Waikato as a schoolboy, from the bench, in the province's opening game in 2006. A teammate withdrew at late notice and coach Warren Gatland made the inquiry.

Maitland recalled: "He said one of the boys had pulled out and he wanted to chuck me on the bench. We went to play Taranaki in New Plymouth and I got a game when they subbed Sitiveni Sivivatu."

The Hamilton Boys' High student felt it was a one-off and, when Deans came calling a week later, he was happy to fly south with his father to inspect the Canterbury set-up. At the end of the year, he was on his way to start a rugby future with Canterbury and the Crusaders.

"The main reason was to stand on my two feet a bit, get a bit of independence," Maitland said. "I was always getting a hard time about being a mummy's boy at high school and this was an opportunity to make my own way. Waikato also had a lot of wings and I thought Canterbury might have a vacancy there."

Maitland wears the No15 red and black jersey tonight for their provincial finals duel with Waikato. Old school buddies like Trent Renata, Jackson Willison and Toby Smith are in the opposition.

There has been plenty of texting with Renata in the build-up and a few beers planned when the match is over. In the fourth form, their roles were reversed. Renata was on the wing, Maitland at five-eighths until he and the coaches realised he "could not pass" and swapped their duties.

Maitland has the gas to play out wide. He sprinted 11.29sec for the 100m and 22.30 for the 200m at school while his 1.89m and 97kgs frame also allows him to absorb the hits. In his opening season down south, Maitland learned from men such as Rico Gear and Scott Hamilton before injury bit into his game time. He also admitted he got a little ahead of himself before taking stock and surging again this season.

He likes fullback, where he gets the freedom to use his talents. His speed makes him a dangerous counter-attacker, while his defence and kicking games have improved.

"I guess my pace is one of my weapons with the changes in the rules and my endurance has improved, too. At fullback I have a bit of room to have a go and that has been great.

"Hopefully I'll get some ball in this final."

The other bonus in the Canterbury backline was being able to run off Ryan Crotty or Robbie Fruean.

"It is great, mate. A guy like Sonny Bill goes and Crotty comes into the mix.

"He is a handy guy with his distribution, he carries hard too and Robbie has had an outstanding season and when he gets the ball you can see everyone's eyes light up. You know that defenders are going to go to him so that will open space up in other areas.

"He is 113kg, that is humungous and the way he runs, he leans forwards and bruises people."

Maitland does his best to avoid Fruean in opposed training sessions and will be fascinated by the possible confrontation between Waikato's battleweight centre Save Tokula and Fruean tonight.

"That Tokula is another Boys High product, you know.

"He's not small either, I think I'll leave that battle to them."


ITM Cup final

* Christchurch, 7.35 tonight

* Skysport 1