Rugby prop's unbeaten run under threat
During his three years in the Hastings Boys' High School 1st XV rugby side prop Tini Nu'u has yet to experience defeat on home turf.
Naturally Nu'u wants that record to remain intact when his side hosts arch rivals and neighbours Napier Boys' High School in a Super 8 round two clash on Saturday.
"It would be ratshit to lose at home and playing at home is a huge advantage to us," Nu'u said.
The 18-year-old Year 13 student impressed with his powerful carries during last weekend's away 25-8 loss to Palmerston North Boys' High School.
"We have to improve our communication and make our first-up tackles to get back on the winning path this weekend," Nu'u explained.
"Last weekend we had too many chiefs. This week we will have one captain [Cooper Flanders] making the calls and that should help things," Nu'u said.
While he prefers the tighthead role Nu'u is happy on either side of the scrum. He is expecting a tough encounter on Saturday and he hopes to prop against Mitchell Curran and Iafeta Maa who were Hawke's Bay under-16 teammates of his in 2018.
With no National Top Four competition to aim for this year Nu'u said his main goal this season is to help his team win the Super 8.
"We couldn't do it last year and this is my last chance this year."
A big fan of Blues and All Black prop Ofa Tuungafasi, Nu'u, hopes to follow his path and become a professional player. He also intends to enter the building trade and the former Hastings Rugby and Sports club player is prepared to leave the Bay to tick those goals off.
NBHS coach Brendon Ratcliffe said this morning there were likely to be changes to the squad used in last weekend's 24-0 victory against Gisborne Boys' High School and his team for Saturday won't be announced until tomorrow.
Rugged loosie Rakai Henare, who played for the 2nd XV last weekend, and experienced outside back Jayden Stok, who has recovered from injury, are both available for selection.
"With the extended squad we run between the 1st and 2nd XVs there is plenty of depth ... the most we have had in my three years at the school," former Magpies mentor Ratcliffe said.
"On most Saturday's there are five or six players in the 2nd XV who could be starting for the firsts. That gives us tough selections which is good. At the same time we know while we did some good things against Gisborne there is a huge amount to work on ... we've only had one Super 8 game," he added.
The HBHS team for Saturday's 12noon clash:
Eldius Oli, Elijah Mataira, Andrew Hayward, Adam Bibby, Mefi Tupou, Hoera Stephenson, Phillip King-Panapa, Cooper Flanders (captain), Josh Leach, Kaihau Pasikala, Josh Beehre, Fraser Taurima-Heperi, Tini Nu'u, Jacob Dorward, Aone Lolofie. Substitutes: Forwards, Vikta Tavita, Manahi Goulton, Mosese Fineanganofo, Ned Saifiti, Donovan Godinet. Backs, Jehmial Ross, Alex Dickey
