Ihaia West in action for the Hurricanes against the Highlanders last month. Photo/Photosport
Hawke's Bay's Hurricanes rugby team first five-eighth Ihaia West will dedicate any minutes he receives against the Sharks in Napier on Friday night to Magpies great Hepa Paewai.
West's family and the family of Paewai, a Magpies legend who died in February after a battle with cancer, are extremely close. West's father, Napier Boys' High School teacher Simon West, was the MC at Paewai's service hosted by their Havelock North Rugby Club.
"I don't know if I'll be in the team yet but if I am lucky enough to make the 23 any minutes I get will be for Hepa. It was always good to have him around and passing on tips. Hepa told me I should move in one position but I haven't quite got there yet," West said.
Should West get the nod for the week 8 Super Rugby encounter at McLean Park and it will be a surprise if he doesn't it will be his last match for at least three years on home turf. After the Hurricanes campaign West, who has scored 628 points in 62 first class games for the Magpies since his 2012 debut, will head to France.
"I've got a three-year deal with a club over there which I can't name yet but I could play for the Magpies one day in the future after that," West said.
The cheeky pivot who is likely to join loosie Gareth Evans and hooker Ricky Riccitelli as current or former villagers players on the Canes roster on Friday, is adamant he made the right decision to leave the Blues, who he played 44 matches for between 2014 and last year, to play for the Canes. He said he has learnt plenty off the world's best 10 - All Black Beauden Barrett.
"Options and decision making have been my biggest learnings off Beauden and when necessary skip the bloke in 13 if it is Mike Proctor," he said, referring to one of his teammates who continually threw banter West's way during the interview.
It was a sign of the tight culture which exists within the Hurricanes camp.
"It's a good environment down here in Wellington and it makes it easier for the family to come down from the Bay and watch," West said.
A Maori All Black since 2013 and a New Zealand under-20 rep in 2012, West, 26, is happy with the way the Canes have been trucking since their first round loss to the Bulls in Pretoria which he described as a "pretty poor start". He had 20 minutes off the pine in last Friday night's 50-19 win over the Rebels in Melbourne.
"After last weekend our biggest work on will be making sure we start early and build pressure from the start. We were 19-8 down after 20 minutes against the Rebels."
West was impressed with the Sharks 63-40 victory against his old Blues outfit in Auckland on Saturday night.
"Obviously the Sharks will be big and physical like all South African teams. But we just can't expect them to focus on mauls and scrums as they proved against the Blues they can throw the ball around ... they want to play like us so it will be a good contest," West said.
It's no secret the Sharks' win against the Blues was a real confidence booster. The improved performance of their pack from previous weeks displays was significant.
Coach Robert du Preez had every right to praise the impact of loosie Philip van der Walt who shone with his courage and leadership in an exceptional return from injury. However the Canes have been running hot and have an impressive record at McLean Park which is unlikely to be dented this week.
It's easy to picture West weaving his way through the tiring Sharks defence to score a late try similar to the one he scored for the Blues in their 22-16 win against the British and Irish Lions at Eden Park last year. That would be an appropriate send off for him from McLean Park, one Hepa Paewai will be wanting to toast from above with a Tui or two.
■ Havelock North Rugby Club officials are thrilled their club will host tomorrow's Hurricanes Captain's Run.
"With three Havelock North players in the Hurricanes team for this weekend as well as Devan Flanders in the extended squad it's appropriate the Captain's Run will be here at Anderson Park," club stalwart and former Magpies first five-eighth Richard Kinnear said last night.
"Everyone is welcome from 4pm and there will be bouncy castles and other activities for the kids," Kinnear added.