Hurricanes rugby prop Ben May says the front row enjoy a life of obscurity by keeping their heads down. Photo / Photosport
He is in the front row of the Beehive of the Hurricanes' welcoming committee but Hawke's Bay Magpie Ben May is blissfully content with a backbencher's status when it comes to exposure.
"It's tough - not everyone's cup of tea. You have to put your head in some dark places and do some things that most people wouldn't want to," says the jovial 124kg bloke who stands at 1.93m and has no qualms about buttressing a tight five who question their counterparts' pedigree at the height of the 80-minute battle on the paddock.
"Mate, I love playing. Either side, it doesn't worry me as long as I'm on the paddock," he replies, when asked whether tighthead or openside prop takes his fancy before starting in the 7pm Super Rugby kick off against the Brumbies tomorrow.
It'll be the 10th occasion the Canes will have played at McLean Park, but the first time against the Australian Conference leaders.
In previous encounters here, the hosts boast a 6-3 record but in the 22 times the sides have locked horns the Canes have won nine and lost 13.
Ten of those have been on New Zealand soil, with the sides sharing the spoils although in the last clash in Canberra the Brumbies flogged the Canes 52-10 in the opening round of 2016 in Canberra.
The life of obscurity in the front row sits quite comfortably on the boulder shoulders of May who, with Jeffery To'omaga-Allen on the other side, ensures outgoing Magpie hooker Ricky Riccitelli is hanging tough.
"We like it like that. We're not the prettiest of the bunch so you don't want to be in the paper too much, do yer?"
The 34-year-old Blenheim-born player, who is nearing the 90-cap mark in Super Rugby, doesn't join the anthem of entering the twilight zone of his career just yet.
Having signed another two years with the Hurricanes, May has a spring in his step.
"I'm still learning every week so I don't look at it as twilight but just to get out there and give it my 100 every week. I just love playing footy," says the man known in the rugger circles as Bam.
"I'm probably training harder now than when I was a younger fellow."
He pays tribute to the franchise's medical staff and trainers who put them through the spin-dry cycle but adroitly ensure there's longevity in the chassis while revving up the engine.
"I'm probably in the best shape of my life, to be honest, so we have a pretty good bunch of guys here looking after us so it's pretty easy on Saturdays."
He is looking forward to taking the Super game to McLean Park, playing in front of a provincial crowd "who really love footy so they get behind it".
"I'm a small town boy so rugby has given me pretty much everything. It's taken me several times around the world ... so it's been pretty amazing looking back with an amazing career and heaps of fun," says May, who hails from the town of Murchison, south of Nelson, stepping outside his comfort zone to play for Canterbury, Waikato, Crusaders, Chiefs and in Japan.
While he rejoices with other Canes in the rash of wins, May emphasises the collective is mindful it's not where they want to be.
"We haven't quite hit our straps yet so that's the feeling in the camp," he says. "We've still got a bit of growing to do so we're trying to do that each week."
Pulling out the spanners and screwdrivers to tweak the Canes' defence is on the top of the list because they are still leaking a few points. Ditto the basics on attack where fumbles are creeping in under pressure.
"Our catch pass, rush forwards, carrying and reloading, and those sorts of things," says May, who also has renewed his contract with the Magpies.
On the flip side, May agrees that need not be a bad thing because it's perhaps an indication they haven't peaked too early.
"We've got this game so we're pretty much treating it like a final. You know, the Brumbies are a bloody good team so we'll have to be on our game 100 per cent."
He notes the Aussie franchise pack is physical but also boast a classy backline.
"It'll be a tough night at the office but if we do the simply things we should be half way to winning, anyway."
Training in wet, windy conditions a lot of times, May says the boys will enjoy the balmy autumn night here.
He says re-signing with the Magpies was "a no brainer" after enjoying his time here last season.
May prefers not to see the departure of a raft of players and assistant coach Danny Lee as "disappointing" but more as people who are simply opening the door when opportunity comes knocking.
"It's a business for everyone so each to their own and I wish them all the best."
BOTH TEAMS
HURRICANES: 15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Cory Jane, 13 Vince Aso, 12 Ngani Laumape, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, 8 Blade Thomson, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Brad Shields (c), 5 Vaea Fifita, 4 Mark Abbott, 3 Jeffery To'omaga-Allen, 2 Ricky Riccitelli, 1 Ben May.
Reserves: 16 Leni Apisai, 17 Chris Eves, 18 Mike Kainga, 19 James Blackwell, 20 Callum Gibbins, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Otere Black, 23 Ben Lam.
BRUMBIES: 15 Aidan Toua, 14 Henry Speight, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Andrew Smith, 11 James Dargaville, 10 Wharenui Hawera, 9 Joel Powell, 8 Jarrad Butler, 7 Chris Alcock, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Sam Carter (c), 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Josh Mann-Rea, 1 Scott Sio.
Reserves: Robbie Abel, Nic Mayhew, Ben Alexander, Blake Enever, Lolo Fakaosilea, De Wet Roos, Jordan Jackson-Hope, Nigel Ah Wong.