Well-suited and booted

By WYNNE GRAY

There is a good old belly laugh when Nick White acknowledges he is an all-round sportsman.

Part of the mirth centres on his shape, which has refused to buckle to the modern sporting demands of dietitians, trainers and fitness gurus.

Any who doubted his versatility would have gawped last week when the prop boomed a 70m touchfinder from a mark against Otago.

They should also know that in his younger days, when White left Whangarei to board at King's College, he played three years as No 8 for the first XV and made the Auckland secondary schools side.

He was also a useful left-arm swing bowler in senior cricket and a man who is keenly involved in the horseracing industry.

When he slowed down after school, or other loose forwards increased their speed, White's build suggested a move to the front row. He is still there and while he works hard, his shape has stayed much the same.

"You've gotta do what best suits you. If it is bacon and eggs and sausages for breakfast or salads at other times you've gotta have a bit of a mix. I keep it basic, no special theories," he says, "but you can't eat rabbit food all your life.

"This year, not having a lot of injuries has helped, while being with the Crusaders during the Super 12 made a lot of difference, too.

"It is a good job, good occupation.

"If you don't front, the team doesn't, so there is a fair bit of heat on you."

The 28-year-old pulled on the New Zealand A jersey in 2000, but rib cartilage and hamstring troubles last season interrupted that progress. He feels he is starting to come right again.

"I hope to do this job for a while. It beats milking cows. I really enjoy it, it is good fun and I want to consolidate. We needed to do that against Otago, and we have to do it against Wellington, too, because those boys have been going quite well.

"They always give it plenty and they have more experience now. They always had a good lineout. It was just their scrum which was a bit shaky, but that seems to have stabilised now."

White is more concerned about countering Wellington tonight than worrying about any possible move to Auckland by Waikato prop Deacon Manu: "If he comes so be it, if he doesn't, that's okay too."

White transferred to Auckland from Northland and was drafted this year to the Crusaders, where he revelled in his work. The locals were generous with their rugby information and the change recharged his batteries.

"I learned heaps on the field and at training, and it is up to me to use it. I improved things like my tackling and scrummaging techniques, and it makes you think it would be great to be 21 again."

White says Auckland has appreciated the scrum work this season.

"I think Auckland is on the edge of doing something. We have a few guys who have been there a while and it is time to make it happen.

"If we don't win against Wellington it will be an average season again, no different from last year really. But I think we are a better team than we were at this stage last year."