Rugby: Shh Kaka, West's the best

Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby first five-eighth Ihaia West was copping plenty of flak from teammate Gillies Kaka as the pair travelled home from training yesterday.

Yes, even if you're the hero of a rare Magpies victory as was the case for West during the ITM Cup Premiership win against Bay of Plenty a week ago, you're not excused from getting the borax thrown your way.

"Shoosh ... this is my interview," West politely told Kaka as Kaka, who when it's his turn to face a media scrum is usually quite shy, continued to answer West's questions.

Eventually Kaka obeyed and focused on the driving as West did the answering. New Zealand under-20s representative West will have his first Cup starting XV appearance when the Magpies host Otago in tomorrow night's crossover clash at Napier's McLean Park.

Asked if there would be a repeat of his matchwinning tryscoring feat, which gave the Magpies their 83rd minute 42-41 win against the Steamers last week, West replied: "I've just got to try and run the team first. Hopefully that sort of stuff will come later on. I'm pretty excited to have my first run at 10 ... I'm looking forward to it."

The Havelock North kingpin has been given the opportunity with regular pivot Dan Waenga unavailable with an ankle injury. West was so sharp off the bench last week it would have been an injustice if he wasn't given the start and Waenga given the No12 jersey as the pair combined admirably in those roles during the later stages of last week's win.

For those who missed West's try, the talk of the nation's rugby fraternity since, he scampered 45m for a spectacular swandive finish after receiving a clever short pass from a quick penalty taken by flanker Tivaini Fomai.

"I knew if I could get on the outside of their fullback I might be able to get to the tryline," the always humble West recalled.

West had to convert the try for the win and there was an anxious wait for fans as he looked for the ball he had hurled over the advertising signs during his tryscoring celebrations. "There was so much adrenalin at the time and I just threw the ball. Fortunately I managed to find it."

Having a start meant his preparation would be different tomorrow night to what it was when he was one of the subs.

"I'm running the cutter and have to prepare accordingly."

For West, the match will be a reunion of sorts as two of his Napier Boys' High School 1st XV teammates from 2008-09, blindside flanker Gareth Evans and substitute halfback Brad Weber will play for Otago. Evans was the No8 and Weber and West the halfback-first five-eighth combo for NBHS when they made the country's Top Four competition in 2009.

"I'm expecting Gareth to try and run at me. I'll probably get a couple of late shots from him too," West quipped.

"Should Brad get on, our defence will have to be spot on. We all know how quick he is," West said, referring to his former Hawke's Bay Sevens teammate.

West is confident the Magpies will be triumphant tomorrow night.

"The boys are confident after last week's win and we're looking pretty good. There are a couple of boys likely to be in different positions because of injuries but everyone is pretty excited and eager to play on home turf again."

In addition to Weber and Evans, former Hastings Boys' High School hooker Sam Anderson-Heather is the other Otago player with Bay connections.

Magpies coach Craig Philpott wanted to check on injuries at this morning's Captain's Run before announcing his team.

The Otago team is: Tony Ensor, Marshall Suckling, Jayden Spence, Glenn Dickson, Buxton Popoali'i, Hayden Parker, Fumiaki Tanaka, Paul Grant (captain), Lee Allan, Gareth Evans, Rob Verbakel, Tom Franklin, Liam Coltman, Shota Horie, Tama Tuirirangi.

Reserves, forwards: Sam Anderson-Heather, Aki Seiuli, Justin Ives, TJ Ioane.

Backs: Brad Weber, Peter Breen, Adam Hill.