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Instead of heading out onto the motorway and turning south this season, Tasesa Lavea will point his car north for work with the Blues.
It was a lineball decision for some time apparently, with Lavea one of those fortunate players who was guaranteed a place at either the Chiefs, where he was for the last two seasons, or at the Blues, where he made his Super Rugby debut in 2004.
Midfield with the Chiefs, playing outside Stephen Donald, or playmaker with the Blues. Those were the bald decisions the public could see but beneath the surface there were all sorts of conflicts which ate at Lavea and gave him some grief.
He had shifted from the Blues in 2006 and found an easy home with the Chiefs, made plenty of mates and enjoyed the environment even though his last season never got underway because of a pre-season foot injury.
"Coming back to the Blues, it took me some time to make a decision because of the history of what happened last time," Lavea admitted. "It was a tough decision because I enjoyed my time with the Chiefs, they were a really good bunch."
"It was difficult but at the same time I am motivated."
Being close to family swung the decision to return to the Blues where Lavea will resume his ties with Pat Lam and Shane Howarth who have coached him during his Auckland career.
"They would never say 'come back and you will go straight in', but they did talk about the opportunities and it probably took me about a month before I decided on the change."
In making that choice Lavea has stepped away from the chance to be part of a hot Chiefs backline with Mils Muliaina, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Soseni Anesi, Lelia Masaga, Richard Kahui, Donald and Brendon Leonard.
"Those guys could be very hot and it would have been great to have been involved but in the end my family comes first and I wanted to make this life easier on them while also being happy in my work," he said.
He had almost divorced himself from the Chiefs but knew come round six, that would change and he would be receiving a flurry of text messages in the week building up to the local derby in Hamilton.
"That's probably about the time they will get on their roll too, mid-season, though I hope they get a good start this time."
Lavea played five national championship games for Counties Manukau after splitting the ligaments on top of his foot pre-season and missing last year's Super 14 series. He began training a month earlier than usual for this year's competition to try and cope better with the heavy physical demands.
"As you get older you have to try and look after your body more," said Lavea who at 28, is the third oldest in the Blues squad. "I'm not trying to get bigger just make sure I am in better condition to try and withstand everything. I just want to be available more than I have been in the past. And if I am confident that my body is right then I can concentrate more on my game."
Lavea admitted that he left the Blues last time with his confidence diminished and it took him some time to repair that uncertainty. "I am older now. Mistakes happen, you might get the boo from the crowd but you just have to move on. My role in this team, if I start, is very important because we have an All Black tight five and exciting backs so it is us guys in the middle [numbers 8 ,9, 10 and 12] who need to make it all come together.
"We know that and are aware of it and we have been working hard on decision-making."
