Ever since Hurricanes and Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby lock Isaia Walker-Leawere completed his second season with the New Zealand under-20s in 2017 I labelled him a future All Black.

I haven't been short of supporters with that call as the Maori All Black and son of former Fiji and East Coast lock Kele Leawere continues to develop in Hurricanes and Magpies colours. As Canes assistant coach and former Magpies lock Chris Gibbes said earlier this week Clive club player Walker-Leawere (pictured above) just needs to work on his consistency.

When I suggested to the Gisborne Boys' High School old boy today that the 2023 World Cup had to be a realistic target he replied:  

"I would love to be there in 2023. If it doesn't happen I won't worry about it ... I've got heaps of time. Helping the Canes win the Trans-Tasman competition is the more immediate goal."

A Magpie since 2019, Walker-Leawere, 24, is looking forward to the unbeaten Canes third round Super Rugby Trans-Tasman clash against the winless Western Force at Napier's McLean Park tomorrow night.

"McLean Park has always been a good stomping ground for the Canes, You always get a good crowd and good atmosphere there," Walker-Leawere said.

"Izzy from Gizzy" Walker-Leawere's nickname pointed out he hasn't been short of requests for tickets from family members from Poverty Bay and East Coast since the Canes arrived in Napier this morning.

He was confident the Canes wouldn't become the first Kiwi team to lose to an Aussie team in the comp.

"We're concentrating on our game and getting better with our game. If we get to play our way no team will stick with us."

Walker-Leawere is also looking forward to marking former Hurricanes lock Jeremy Thrush who was still with the Canes when he first cracked the squad.

"I learnt a lot from him and it will be interesting to see what happens when we get out there tomorrow night."

Walker-Leawere (pictured below, second from right) has plenty of respect for the Force.

"All the Aussie teams are getting a lot bigger these days. They are starting to bring a running game, a more expansive game. They like to attack. But if we play our game we should be sweet."

Fellow Magpie, No 8 Gareth Evans (pictured above left) is ls also in the Canes starting XV while prop Pouri Rakete-Stones (second from left) is likely to get minutes from the subs bench.

Former Chiefs and Counties-Manukau winger Toni Pulu will play his 50th match for the Force. Thrush will play his first game against his former side since moving to the Force in 2018.

Thrush missed last week's 25-15 loss to the Highlanders in Perth through injury and joins Pulu, who returns from suspension, hooker Andrew Ready and first five-eighth Domingo Miotti as the four changes to the starting XV used in that outing.

Former Wallabies centre Tevita Kuridrani, who missed the start of the Trans-Tasman competition through suspension has been named on the subs bench.

Teams for the 7.05pm clash:
Hurricanes: Jordie Barrett, Wes Goosen, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Ngani Laumape, Salesi Rayasi, Orbyn Leger, Luke Campbell, Gareth Evans, Du'plessis Kirifi, Reed Prinsep (captain), Scott Scrafton, Isaia Walker-Leawere, Tyrel Lomax, Asafo Aumua, Xavier Numia.
Substitutes: Forwards, Ricky Riccitelli, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Alex Fidow, James Blackwell, Ardie Savea. Backs, Cam Roigard, Billy Proctor, Vince Aso.  

Western Force: Rob Kearney, Toni Pulu, Richard Kahui, Kyle Godwin, Jordan Olowofela, Domingo Miotti, Tomas Cubelli, Tim Anstee, Kane Koteka, Fergus Lee-Warner, Sitaleki Timani, Jeremy Thrush, Santiago Medrano, Andrew Ready, Tom Robertson.
Res: Feleti Kaitu’u, Angus Wagner, Greg Holmes, Ryan McCauley, Brynard Stander, Ian Prior, Jack McGregor, Tevita Kuridrani.