Rugby: Former Lions prop Joe Apikotoa thrives in Magpies nest

Magpies head coach Mark Ozich was a happy man after yesterday's win. Photo/File

New Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby prop Joe Apikotoa reckons he got too comfortable within himself in Wellington during the past couple of seasons.

"I needed a change to make myself work a bit harder," Apikotoa, 21, said yesterday as he reflected on his transfer from the Hutt Old Boys Marist club to Taradale Rugby and Sports.

Magpies head coach Mark Ozich was happy with the tighthead's shift during yesterday's pre-season 29-22 win against the Tasman Mako in Lower Hutt. Former Wellington Lions rep Apikotoa also gave his 40 minutes the thumbs up.

"It was good to play some good footy at another level above club. It was a lot harder and a lot faster and the boys went well at set piece. We were happy to win all of our ball and we also put the Mako under pressure."

While making the Magpies Mitre 10 Cup squad is the Hawk Packaging worker's immediate priority his long-term goal is a berth in the Hurricanes Super Rugby squad.

He was in the Magpies 1st Half XV which established a 24-17 halftime lead after playing with the wind in fine conditions.

Locks Sam Ulufonua and Tom Parsons and No 8 Josh Kaifa, a former Auckland teammate of Ulufonua, were other first half Magpies forwards to stand out according to Ozich.

Fullback JJ Taulagi again displayed the benefits of his Super Rugby experience with the Japan Sunwolves and Queensland Reds.

Ozich was impressed with the work rates of blindside flanker Ricky Hayes and loosehead prop Aleki Vuki in his 2nd Half XV forward pack.

Fullback Johnny Ika and halfback Folau Fakatava were the pick of the Magpies 2nd Half XV backs.

"It was good to see the boys get a feel of the speed of the game required at this level. There were a few knock ons and some loose carries and the boys now know how they have to work on the execution of their skills under pressure when there is less time and less space.

"We also need to be more accurate around the breakdown with better support of the ball carrier. That comes down to better decision making," Ozich said.

"But when you consider we had only been together for a couple of weeks I was happy with the effort and buy in against a good side," he added.

Six players in the first-half team, Parsons, winger Mason Emerson, halfback Ellery Wilson, flanker Fa'alemiga Selesele, hooker Jason Long and prop Mark Braidwood and two in the second-half team, Hayes and lock Trent Boswell-Wakefield, had played first class rugby for the Magpies.

Once Ozich and his assistant Josh Syms have analysed footage of yesterday's match they will name a second wider training group to prepare for a June 4 fixture against Wairarapa Bush in Featherston.

The Magpies will also play the Manawatu Evergreens on July 4 and Ozich is hoping for a fixture against Auckland on July 29 but no player involved with the Maddison Trophy final the previous day will be expected to play in this match.

The Magpies' final pre-season game will be against Waikato in Taupo on August 4 and their Mitre 10 Cup campaign will begin with an away fixture against Southland on August 19.

Scorers:
Hawke's Bay Magpies 29 (Tom Parsons, Sebastian Visinia, JJ Taulagi, Sasa Tofilau, Folau Fakatava tries; Taulagi, Lincoln McClutchie cons), Tasman Mako 22 (Tomas Aoake 2, Anty Burnett, Jack Grooby tries; Willy Havili con). HT: 24-17.