Rugby: Record Bay contingent for Baby Blacks

Three of the five from the Bay in the Baby Blacks. From left head coach Craig Philpott, Tiaan Falcon and Pouri Rakete-Stones. Photo/Paul Taylor

Top sports people can often be judged by the manner in which they deal with disappointment and bounce back.

They can either spit the dummy and abandon their goals or they can set some new ones and work hard to achieve them. Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby team's utility back Tiaan Falcon chose the latter path.

"I'm excited and honoured. It's awesome for family and friends ... I've been working for this for a long time. When I missed out on making the New Zealand Secondary Schools team in 2015 the New Zealand Under-20s World Championship team was the next major goal I set and I was over the moon when I got the news this morning," Falcon said yesterday.

Craig Philpott, Tiaan Falcon and Pouri Rakete-Stones are heading to Georgia. Photo/Paul Taylor

A son of former Maori All Black and Magpie Gordon Falcon and grandson of former Maori All Black and Magpie Ray Falcon, the younger Falcon was one of four Bay players selected in the Baby Blacks team for the World Championship in Georgia - a record for the province.

Props Pouri Rakete-Stones and Tim Farrell, a son of former Magpies prop John Farrell, and Magpies loosie Marino Mikaele Tu'u were the others named by Baby Blacks head coach and Magpies mentor Craig Philpott for the May 25 to June 18 tournament.

Clive's Falcon was a commanding figure during the Baby Blacks title-winning effort at the Oceania Tournament which ended on the Gold Coast at the weekend - classy in general play and slick in the goalkicking department with six successes from seven attempt at goal in the 43-6 win against Australia and eight successes from nine attempts in an earlier outing.

"I'm enjoying playing at first five as well as having a bit of time at 12. I'm enjoying leading the boys around. As for the goalkicking I'm just following the processes after a bit of work with Osh," Falcon said referring to Magpies goalkicking coach Peter O'Shaughnessy.

He was rapt the other three Bay players had also got the nod.

"I've grown up with these boys playing through the grades. It's pretty special."

Farrell was taken to the Gold Coast as a project for next year's World Championship but Philpott said he did so well with his opportunities he forced the selectors to pick him for Georgia. Philpott was impressed with how Farrell contacted his Victoria University lecturers to warn them he may have a bit of catching up to do with his part-time studies after the Aussie trip.

"When I got the news this morning I dropped one of my geography papers. I'm not capable of doing all my part-time studies if I want to achieve my rugby goals," Farrell said.

"When I went to the Gold Coast I was trying not to think about Georgia. Now I've got this opportunity I want to help the team do as much as we can to win the World Championship so I get another crack next year," Farrell said.

Rakete-Stones was thrilled to get the nod after just missing World Championship selection last year after playing in the Oceania Tournament. The fact he can play all three frontrow positions is one of his biggest assets.

"I'm still happy to play all three roles but I'm settling down more at tighthead now. I know I have to keep working hard at being more aggressive. I like the mobility side of my game but I just have to force a trigger and get that aggression sorted."

Mikaele-Tu'u was busy with a Hurricanes training stint yesterday. He was a member of last year's Baby Blacks team which finished fifth in Manchester and has made no secret of his desire to help the 2017 team erase those memories with title glory.

The New Zealand team is:
Forwards: Asafo Aumua, Sam Caird, Adrian Choat, Tom Christie, Ryan Coxon, Tim Farrell, Alex Fidow, Luke Jacobson (c), Ezekiel Lindenmuth, Marino Mikaele-Tuu, Dalton Papalii, Jacob Pierce, John Sauni, Samuel Slade, Pouri Rakete-Stones, Isaia Walker-Leawere.
Backs: Caleb Clarke, Ereatara Enari, Braydon Ennor, Tima Faingaanuku, Tiaan Falcon, Will Jordan, Kemara Hauiti-Parapara, Orbyn Leger, Josh McKay, Jona Nareki, Tamati Tua, Thomas Umaga-Jensen.