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Home / New Zealand

No torn loyalties for Wairarapas England test star

Wairarapa Times-Age
30 Nov, 2008 04:00 AM3 mins to read

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Wairarapa-born England centre Riki Flutey is adamant there will be no case of divided loyalties when he faces the All Blacks at Twickenham tomorrow.
Flutey, 28, recently qualified for his adopted country after completing a three-year residency period and has featured in all of England's Tests at Twickenham this month.
But there
is no denying the special nature of a match which will pit Flutey against former provincial or age group team-mates in Piri Weepu, New Zealand captain Richie McCaw, Rodney So'oialo and Keven Mealamu.
"I have played with or against these guys most of my career and I'm really excited about Saturday," Flutey, formerly a midfielder with Wellington, the Hurricanes and New Zealand Maori, said this week after England's team was announced by manager Martin Johnson.
"Getting the opportunity to represent England against New Zealand is a big moment. I am looking forward to the challenge of the 'haka'.
"I was born and brought up in New Zealand but I will be singing the English national anthem loud and proud."
How to deal with the haka, New Zealand's traditional pre-match challenge, has provoked some interesting responses this tour.
Irish province Munster's band of Kiwis, including the former All Black wing Doug Howlett, performed a haka of their own. Less well received by New Zealand was Wales' 'stare-down' at Cardiff last weekend.
The Welsh stood their ground after the All Blacks finished the haka and, with neither side moving, South African referee Jonathan Kaplan was left in the uncomfortable position of begging both teams to get the game underway.
Flutey, however, indicated he had no plans to do anything "just a little inappropriate", which is likely to please his friends and relatives back home.
There was, and remains, some doubt as to whether Flutey would play this weekend after he came off in just the 32nd minute of England's record-breaking 42-6 loss to world champions South Africa with a hamstring injury.
"We were very disappointed with the result," said Flutey.
"We have to learn from our mistakes and trust the attacking and defensive systems we have in place.
"We camped in their 22 for quite some time on Saturday so we had some chances. It's about having patience and not pushing to get the pass away."
England fans have yet to see the best of Flutey, who first made his name in the Premiership with London Irish before joining Wasps.
But New Zealand centre Conrad Smith, an opponent this weekend, was in no doubt about his former Wellington colleague's ability.
"It's a bit strange, I'm obviously happy for him," Smith said.
"I always knew he was a pretty classy player.
"Having played with him a lot, you get to see his skills.
"I was stoked for him when he first came over and caused such a hit over there. You heard how good he was playing," added Smith, who will be returning from a groin injury on Saturday as the All Blacks chase a grand slam.
Flutey's assessment of what England are up against in Tri-Nations champions New Zealand may not have been what home supporters wanted to hear, but it was certainly candid.
"They're very dangerous in the counter-attack area - they have ballplayers throughout the side, people with great footwork and a very high skill set."
Smith, meanwhile, was concerned by suggestions Flutey had 'bulked up' while in England.
"Are you trying to scare me? He was always a pretty big guy."

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