Tiaan Falcon keeps alive rich family tradition

Tiaan Falcon (with ball) is poised to follow his father, Gordon Falcon, and grandfather Ray Falcon on to the list of first-class players for the Magpies.

Watch Tiaan Falcon do his promotional work for the Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby team and it's hard to miss the excitement which envelopes his face.

Gordon Falcon.

It's understandable. The 19-year-old Lindisfarne College product is poised to become a third-generation Magpie when the 2016 Mitre 10 Cup squad is announced next week.

Ray Falcon.

His father, former Maori All Black and Hurricanes loosie Gordon Falcon, played 74 first-class games for the Bay from 1989-1995 and his grandfather, Ray Falcon, who was also a Maori All Black loosie, played 40 in the 1980s.

"It's pretty exciting but we have to see how this weekend's game goes first," first five-eighth Falcon said, referring to the Hawke's Bay Saracens match against Taranaki in Hawera tomorrow.

The former Hawke's Bay Ross Shield team captain, who has also represented the Bay at under-14, 16 (twice) and 18 levels is eager to help the Saracens redeem themselves in the wake of last weekend's 54-17 loss to the Manawatu Evergreens in Napier. His 40 minutes of action in the second half was his first outing in nine weeks after recovering from an ankle injury.

"Getting out there again was good but, as a team, we didn't focus on our game and we didn't adapt to the new rules as well as we should have, particularly around the breakdown," Falcon said.

"It's important we look for space and keep things simple."

Falcon has been touted as a serious contender for next year's New Zealand under-20 team. Tomorrow he will mark Stephen Perofeta, who was a member of this year's Baby Blacks team and will be eligible for next year's squad.

"There are a lot of good 10s around. Making the New Zealand under-20s will depend on how well I push my case with the Magpies. I played with Stephen in the New Zealand Barabarians Schools team last year and we're good mates ... it will be good to see him again this weekend," Falcon said.

He is looking forward to learning from former Baby Black and Magpies' first string pivot Ihaia West when he returns to training next week.

"It will be good to see how he runs the game and the chat he uses."

Falcon is full of praise for the support his father has given him since he took him to rugby as a 4-year-old at the Waipawa club.

Falcon replacing Dan Snee is one of four changes Magpies head coach Craig Philpott has made to his starting XV. Right wing Matt Garland and centre Jonah Lowe have swapped jobs, Baby Black Marino Mikaele-Tu'u replaces former Samoa Sevens captain Fa'alemiga Selesele at No8 and Tolu Fahamokioa is in for Jarvy Aoake at tighthead prop.

Aoake has been released to play for his Napier Old Boys Marist club in tomorrow's Maddison Trophy final. Prop Mark Braidwood returns from injury to take Fahamokioa's berth on the pine.

Former Magpies halfback Isaac Paewai will have his first outing of the season for the side. He is providing cover for century achiever Chris Eaton, who is still recovering from a hamstring injury.

Former All Black lock Ross Filipo will get game time off the bench for the Saracens.

"Ross has been great at training this week. He has been the consummate professional for more than two decades.

"He has brought massive experience to the squad and he still boasts some of those aerial basketball-type skills which saw him selected at the highest level back in 2007," Philpott said.

Hawke's Bay Saracens team for tomorrow: Lewis Marshall, Jonah Lowe, Matt Garland, Billy Ropiha, Mason Emerson, Tiaan Falcon, Ellery Wilson (vice-captain), Marino Mikaele-Tu'u, Ben Hamelink, Trent Boswell-Wakefield (c), Josh Eden-Whaitiri, Ben Parsons, Tolu Fahamokioa, Jorian Tangaere, Jason Long.

Substitutes, forwards: Max Fryatt, Mason Kean, Mark Braidwood, Ross Filipo, Lucas Goodin, Fa'alemiga Selesele.

Backs: Isaac Paewai, Dan Snee, Neria Fomai, Robbie Fruean.