Travel plans looking good

By WYNNE GRAY


At the end of the past few rugby seasons, Ross Kennedy was able to holiday overseas because of his father's global coaching work.

There have been stints in South Africa and Ireland as the young lock linked up with his father, Adrian, a former Canterbury and NZ Combined Services loose forward-turned coach.

"I've seen a bit of the world, it has been pretty handy with Dad getting his jobs in Cape Town and Belfast," Kennedy said.

The travel will continue but the arrangements may change this month when the All Black squad is announced to play games in Italy, Wales, France and England. This time the travel might be courtesy of the New Zealand Rugby Union.

Kennedy is in a strong tussle with a clutch of contenders - including his Waikato opponent Sean Hohneck in the NPC semifinal tonight - to make the touring squad.

Kennedy's case is helped by the unavailability of Keith Robinson, the uncertainty about the health of Ali Williams and the selectors' decisions on departing locks Simon Maling and Brad Thorn.

Kennedy has already had a taste of the All Black way.

When the squad was in Wellington for the opening Bledisloe Cup test, Kennedy was asked to front for some private indoor training where he had to simulate the Wallaby lineout tactics.

"There was only me and the All Black reserves, I was the only outsider," Kennedy recalled.

"It was just fantastic. I don't know why I was roped in but I got a call from [Wellington coach] John Plumtree to go along.

"The quality of movement and the timing was something which really hit me. I learned so much then, it was great."

Kennedy is a decent slab at 1.98m and 112kg, a former national under-19 and under-21 star who has been involved in two Super 12 campaigns and is deep into his third NPC series.

Born in Wellington, Kennedy grew up in Canterbury but returned to the capital and Wellington College for his last three years.

He credits his father's rugged attitude for shaping his rugby progress. "His influence was pretty strong and I know that a few guys in sides he has coached have got a bit of a culture shock," Kennedy said.

"He has been in coaching partnership with Alan Solomons for a few years now and they have taken over from Wayne Smith now at Northampton."

Sometime before Christmas, Kennedy wants to hook up again with his father in Britain. The curiosity will be whether Kennedy has to make just a short journey after being with the All Blacks for their final tour match at Twickenham against the Barbarians.

Until his fourth form year, Kennedy was a No 8. Then he grew, and by his own admission became a bit clumsy as he changed to lock. However, he had impressed enough observers to represent New Zealand at the international under-19 competition in Chile. Since then his progress has been rapid.

All sorts of advice has come his way including some from coach Graham Mourie that he should stack on some weight so his frame could cope better with the buffeting of first division rugby.

A holiday to Ireland, with some solid food and quaffing added the necessary 10kg conditioning for Kennedy. There was also selection for the 2003 Hurricanes squad.

"When I turned up I thought I would be the fourth choice behind Paul Tito, Luke Andrews and Kristian Ormsby. But I got a few games and then a lot more this year," he said.

A few more was almost every game during this Super 12 while Kennedy has also been prominent as a middle of the lineout jumper in Wellington's great run through the NPC.

Plumtree has also given the young lock some straightforward advice this year.

"He is very much an old school guy who shoots straight from the hip, he has been brilliant," Kennedy said.

"What the coaching staff have done is impress us with their work ethic.

"They have worked us really hard especially on our defence."

Kennedy shares a flat with squad members Kane Thompson and Luke Mahoney.

Kennedy and his mates intend returning for the NPC final next week. The semifinal hurdle against Hohneck and Co will be significant, but if Wellington clear that, it can only promote the chances for individuals like Kennedy to challenge harder for the All Blacks.

"This series has gone incredibly quickly, I don't want it to end yet," he said.

"This season has seemed to race along. This has been my first full-on year of professional rugby and I had a few niggles at the start of the NPC but I have come right now and freshened up."


Ross Kennedy


Age: 26

Height: 1.98m

Weight: 112kg

Wellington debut: 2002 v Hawkes Bay

Education: Wellington College, Christchurch Boys High

Club: Old Boys-University

Rep honours: NZ U19 2001

NZ U21 2002-2003

Wellington Colts 2001

Wellington 2002-2004

Hurricanes 2003-2004


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