Evans brothers to start for Magpies against Harbour
It's easy to picture the light-hearted banter received and dished out by Bryn Evans and Sona Taumalolo, the veterans in the Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby team.
Former All Black lock Evans, 35, is happy to accept it.
"I think they just wanted to tip the average age of the team up this week with a few of us old boys selected," Evans remarked after hearing the pair had been named in the squad for tomorrow's fifth round Mitre 10 Cup crossover clash against North Harbour at Albany.
While Evans will start 38-year-old former Tonga prop Sona Taumalolo is likely to get game time off the subs bench. Both Evans and Taumalolo last played for the Magpies in 2011.
"Sona is running around like a fresh 19-year-old. But you soon realise how old he is when it hits 3.30pm at trainings and he has to leave pretty quickly to pick up his kids from school," Evans explained.
"A few of the young boys in our squad look up to Sona. They always make sure there is a spare seat for him during team talks so he can take the pressure off his knees," Evans quipped.
The 2009 two-test All Black and former Blues and Hurricanes player admitted he didn't think he would play again after returning to New Zealand earlier this year after stints with London Irish and the Sale Sharks in the United Kingdom and Biarritz Olympique in France.
"But when I sat down with Oz [Magpies head coach Mark Ozich] and Symsie [assistant coach Josh Syms] it didn't take them long to convince me. They're good guys, pretty understanding and innovative ... they gave me the spark I needed to play again," Evans explained.
"They have the ability to have a good laugh with the boys. But they also know when to lay the hammer down and when they talk everyone listens to them."
Tomorrow Evans will play alongside his brother and fellow former All Black Gareth Evans who will start at No 8. They last played together in 2010 for their Havelock North club alongside brother Rhys who is a former Hawke's Bay B rep.
"It's pretty good to have the opportunity to play alongside one of the brothers in the black and white jersey."
Evans was realistic when asked whether he was good enough to stay in the side for next Friday night's Ranfurly Shield defence against Northland at Napier's McLean Park.
"This is a tough team to crack. The young boys, especially those in the second row have been playing well. I just have to worry about my game and see how the chips fall when next week's team is named."
"Everyone wants a jersey and this weekend's team shows how much depth there is across all positions in this year's team," Evans said.
He played the first of his 77 first class games for the Magpies in 2003 when this season's North Harbour mentor Kieran Keane was the Magpies head coach. While he has always kept himself in good shape Evans admitted he has found this season's conditioning work a challenge.
"Our trainers have been running those of us not involved in the playing 23 each week pretty hard."
Although he said it's too early to say whether he will have another season with the Magpies next year Evans, a father of one, admitted it would be good to have a club season with the villagers.
"I'm just happy to be home with family. When the sun is out I question myself why I spent as much time away as I did, I've thrown my passport away now," Evans explained.
He pointed out North Harbour will be tough following their win against Tasman last week.
"They have a big pack and a good 10 in Bryn Gatland who steers them around pretty good. We just have to box clever away from home and play our own game," Evans added.
Evans replacing of the in-form Tom Parsons is one of 12 changes to the Magpies starting XV. All eight of the Magpies substitutes are different to those used in last week's shield challenge.
Both Magpies prop Jason Long and openside flanker Brendon O'Connor will play their 50th first class games for the team. Last year's New Zealand under-20 tam captain and hooker Kianu Kereru-Symes will captain the Magpies in the absence of regular leader Ash Dixon who is one of several key first stringers having a well deserved rest.
Long replaces Maori All Black Pouri Rakete-Stones at loosehead prop, shield minder Joel Hintz replaces Joe Apikotoa, Maori All Black lock Isaia Walker-Leawere replaces Geoff Cridge, Gareth Evans replaces Devan Flanders, halfback Connor McLeod replaces Folau Fakatava, first five-eighth Caleb Makene replaces Lincoln McClutchie, Mason Emerson replaces the injured Jonah Lowe on the left wing, Ollie Sapsford replaces Danny Toala at second five-eighth, centre Sam McNicol will make his first outing of the season as a replacement for Stacey Ili while right winger Neria Fomai will also make his first appearance of the season replacing Lolagi Visinia.
Should winger Anzelo Tuitavuki get game time off the subs bench it will be the Havelock North club player's debut for the visitors.
The full Magpies team for tomorrow's 2.05pm match:
Kurt Baker, Neria Fomai, Sam McNicol, Ollie Sapsford, Mason Emerson, Caleb Makene, Connor McLeod, Gareth Evans, Brendon O'Connor, Marino Mikaele-Tu'u, Bryn Evans, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Joel Hintz, Kianu Kereru-Symes (captain), Jason Long. Substitutes: Forwards, Jacob Devery, Sona Taumalolo, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Geoff Cridge, Solomone Funaki. Backs, Folau Fakatava, Lincoln McClutchie, Anzelo Tuitavuki.
