"First things first" for hot Magpies halfback
A couple of curly questions had to be put to in-form Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby halfback Folau Fakatava in the countdown to tomorrow night's final.
The first. Will he be a little restrained tomorrow night because of his outing with the Moana Pasifika side against the Maori All Blacks the following weekend in Hamilton or will he give his all as he has in every other match this season?
The second. Will Fakatava get a haircut before the match so he can run faster than he did during his 72 metre run away try in last weekend's semifinal win against Taranaki?
Magpies fans will be happy with the 20-year-old Tongan's answers to both as the Ranfurly Shield holders completed their final preparations for the Mitre 10 Cup Championship final against Northland at Napier's McLean Park.
"I'm not worrying about the Pasifika game yet. It's a case of first things first and that's this weekend. But at the same time I know if I play well this weekend I've got a good chance of being the starting halfback the following weekend," Fakatava explained.
And the possibility of a haircut?
"I'll leave it like it is for the last game. I didn't know I could run that fast ... I've never scored a try like that," the humble Fakatava replied.
The Magpies Back of the Year award winner admitted to being "pretty happy" with his form to date this season.
"It's a matter of keeping the consistency and getting better with each game. If I make a mistake I go out in the next game with the aim of making sure it doesn't happen again," Fakatava explained.
He agreed his cohesion with long-time pivot Lincoln McClutchie was influential in the Magpies outstanding semifinal performance and it will need to function well again tomorrow night.
"Maks [Caleb Makene] is a good player. But Lincoln and I have played together for my whole professional career and at Hastings Boys' High School. I was hoping he would be starting as we are pretty confident in each other," Fakatava said.
While the Magpies have heard the Taniwha will be missing several key players including Blues halfback Sam Nock with injuries the hosts won't be underestimating the visitors.
"They've got a good forward pack. We have to accept the challenge and aim to put on another good performance at home," Fakatava said.
"We're not only playing for the team but the whole community."
Fakatava has heard the talk suggesting he might be better off playing his Super Rugby with the Hurricanes next year rather than the Highlanders as the Canes will be missing the services of TJ Perenara, who will be in Japan, and the injured Jamie Booth.
"It would have been a good chance to get more minutes with the Canes. But I've got another year with the Highlanders and it will be good to keep learning off Aaron Smith and aim for more game time there," Fakatava added.
McClutchie's replacing of Makene is the only change to the Magpies starting XV used in the semifinal. Makene replaces McClutchie on the pine and the only other change to the bench sees 2019 Baby Blacks captain Kianu Kereru-Symes replace Jacob Devery as the reserve hooker.
The full Magpies team for tomorrow's 7.05pm final:
Kurt Baker, Lolagi Visinia, Stacey Ili, Neria Fomai, Jonah Lowe, Lincoln McClutchie, Folau Fakatava, Devan Flanders, Solomone Funaki, Marino Mikaele-Tu'u, Tom Parsons, Geoff Cridge, Joe Apikotoa, Ash Dixon (captain), Pouri Rakete-Stones. Substitutes: Forwards, Kianu Kereru-Symes, Jason Long, Namatahi Waa, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Gareth Evans. Backs, Connor McLeod, Caleb Makene, Ollie Sapsford.
