Rugby: Bay boys battle for Baabaas No10 jersey

JOSTLING: Ihaia West (2nd from left) and Richard Buckman (right). PHOTO/FILE

Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby team's first five-eighth Ihaia West is used to Andrew Horrell playing outside him.

They were the 10-12 combination on five occasions in ITM Cup play last year and in four games in 2013. But next week they will be competing for the No10 jersey in the New Zealand Barbarians team to play the Maori All Blacks at Auckland's Eden Park on July 18. This pair and utility back Richard Buckman were the three Magpies players named in the Barbarians side.

"Whoever gets the start ... I'm sure we will back each other," West said.

The Blues pivot pointed out his Barbarians selection was the ideal form of consolation for missing out on the Maori All Black team after two years in the Colin Cooper-coached side.

"You always want to play for them but I'm stoked to have a chance of playing for the Barbarians. It's going to be interesting to have a crack at the Maori side and I'm sure there will be plenty of texts flying between us three and the two Magpies in the Maori team," West said referring to hooker Ash Dixon and prop Brendon Edmonds.

Magpies head coach Craig Philpott, who is an assistant coach of the Barbarians side, was thrilled to hear three of his players had made the side.

"It proves they are not too far down the pecking order on the national scene," Philpott said.

With Horrell and West on Barbarians duty, Napier Old Boys Marist pivot Tyrone Elkington-MacDonald is likely to get a second start in the Magpies No10 jersey when they host Thursday's Ranfurly Shield defence against Horowhenua Kapiti at Napier's McLean Park. Buckman, Horrell and West will be available for the July 23 defence against Mid Canterbury.

Former Magpies prop Ben Tameifuna and former Magpies fullback Cory Jane are also in the side. For All Black winger Jane it will be his long-awaited comeback from injury.

Hawke's Bay age group product and new Chiefs lock Dominic Bird is one of three former All Blacks selected. Crusaders loosie Luke Whitelock and Blues hooker James Parsons are the others.

The Barbarians team:

-Forwards: Mitchell Graham (Taranaki), Reg Goodes (Wellington), Ofa Tu'ungafasi (Auckland), Ben Tameifuna (Waikato), Liam Coltman (Otago), James Parsons (North Harbour), Alex Ainley (Tasman), Joseph Wheeler (Tasman), Dominic Bird (Canterbury), Brad Shields (Wellington), Blake Gibson (Auckland), Luke Whitelock (Canterbury), Jordan Taufua (Counties Manukau).

-Backs: Mitchell Drummond (Canterbury), Te Toiroa Tahuiorangi (Taranaki), Andrew Horrell (Hawke's Bay), Ihaia West (Hawke's Bay), George Moala (Auckland), Seta Tamanivalu (Taranaki), Patrick Osborne (Canterbury), Cory Jane (Wellington), Richard Buckman (Hawke's Bay), Tom Taylor (Canterbury).