SHANE HURNDELL
Hawke's Bay rugby hooker Hika Elliot wants another taste of World Cup glory.
Elliot, 20, was a member of New Zealand's World Cup-winning under-19 side two years ago. Making the New Zealand under-21 side for their June World Cup in France is the major focus for the Kelt Capital
Magpies rake this season.
"It's got to be the big focus and Saturday's match is the first opportunity to impress the national selectors," said Elliot who will captain the Hawke's Bay Academy side against the Taranaki Academy in the curtainraiser to the Hurricanes-Western Force Super 14 clash in New Plymouth on Saturday.
"If I keep working away there's no reason why I can't make the under-21s ... the opportunity is there I've got to take it," said the 2004 New Zealand Secondary Schools captain who played nine games for the Magpies last year.
"The Magpies pre-season training sessions are paying big dividends. I'm fitter and more physical than I was at the same time last year and unlike last season I'm starting injury-free," Elliot said.
He is impressed with the Academy side and is "quietly confident" they will produce the goods, not only on Saturday but in their remaining games against Manawatu on February 25 in Waipukurau and against Wellington in Napier on March 4.
One Hawke's Bay player already selected for a World Cup side is Elliot's former Hastings Boys' High School teammate Carl Anderson.
The 2005 New Zealand Secondary Schools flanker, who is attending Otago University this year, is in the New Zealand side to play at April's under-19 World Cup in Dubai.
Hawke's Bay Academy centre Davis Tavita and loose forward Alex Tulou are standby players for the national side. Like Elliot and Anderson, Tavita and Tulou, are HBHS products.
The full Hawke's Bay team is: Ross Callaghan; Andrew Taputoro, Davis Tavita, Levi Armstrong; Joe Utiera, Daniel Kirkpatrick; James Murphy; Adam Bradey; Tivaini Fomai, Rhys Evans, Marcus Donovan, Api Sione; Junior Tere, Hika Elliot (captain), Laurent Simutoga. Substitutes: Karl Lowe, Alex Tulou, Lee Stewart, Dillon Scott.
