Waikato v Magpies Hamilton
Put your hand up if you had Matt Garland among your top three contenders for the Magpies' fullback berth when the Mitre 10 Cup began in August.
Obviously Israel Dagg would have been the No1 contender but he was eliminated from the equation after some outstanding displays for the All Blacks during the June international window. After those performances there was no way Hawke's Bay were going to have his services this season and the bloke has only improved since then in both the wing and fullback positions.
After Dagg the next three contenders would have been Chiefs outside back Sam McNicol but he won't be taking the field for the Magpies this season because of ongoing concussion issues, former Highlanders speedster Ryan Tongia and Shannan Chase who both had short stints in the Magpies No15 jersey earlier in this Premiership season.
Tongia got two starts after Lewis Marshall had the first two and Chase has been used off the pine. Dagg's Napier Pirate Rugby and Sports clubmate Matt Garland, who was selected in the squad as a midfielder or winger, has started the last four games and has relished the role so much he is a serious contender for the Magpies' Rookie of the Year award.
"I wasn't really expecting this amount of time. I'm loving the fullback role and I'm learning a lot more about it each week," Garland said before the Magpies travelled to Hamilton yesterday to prepare for tonight's ninth-round clash against Waikato at FMG Stadium.
The former Australia Secondary Schools rep who completed his second season with the Pirate club in August said his confidence in the position had grown each season.
"I've been injecting myself into the game more. It's a shame there are only two more weeks left in our season but it's all good."
"I'll be staying in the Bay again next year. Hopefully I've done enough to keep my spot in the Magpies squad," Garland, 24, said.
He pointed out it was a little early to be thinking about the Magpies' awards function but said it would be a surprise if he captured the rookie award.
His main focus this week has been tonight's match, the first stage of the Magpies' two-stage mission of must-win games to avoid relegation.
"Waikato have a lot of big boys. It's important we move them around and use our speed. We have to give the ball to our speedsters Mason [Emerson] and Jonah [Lowe]. I love playing with these young fellas ... they can try anything and it will come off."
Garland, who has been using his superb aerial skills well and displayed some classy handling skills in atrocious conditions in Palmerston North last weekend, said the improved defence was a big key to the Magpies' 30-21 win against the Turbos and it was crucial this effort was repeated against Waikato.
"We also have to play with a bit more tempo," Garland stressed.
He has done his homework on Waikato and learnt their first five-eighth, Sam Christie, does a lot of kicking.
"I have to be in the right position when he does."
A former landscape worker and concrete layer, Garland has enjoyed his first season as a professional player but intends to return to one of those roles after the season.
"I will have a couple of weeks off playing and then aim to make the Hawke's Bay Sevens team again. Hopefully a good summer with that team will enhance my chances of Magpies selection again," he added.
Waikato have made no secret of the redemption mission they are on after losing their last three games - including a Ranfurly Shield defence against Canterbury and last weekend's match against Northland, the Taniwhas' first win in two seasons. The Magpies should win but it will be a close encounter and the Magpies must up the tempo during the final 10 minutes.
That is when the speed of Magpies substitute halfback Brad Weber will be crucial. He owes the Bay a win in this clash after scoring three tries when Waikato took the shield off last year.