Forgotten man on rise once more and he's thriving

By WYNNE GRAY

As quickly as Royce Willis made his ascent to the All Blacks, he was gone.

But his climb back is a much more tortuous journey.

Serious leg injuries have interrupted progress, and Willis underwent operations on both sides of his groin and had a deeply lacerated calf.

Those impeded his physical progress, but the lock's mental strength remained.

It has been all about hard work, the qualities Waikato coach Kiwi Searancke wants from his tight five tonight as they hit Eden Park for their Air New Zealand-sponsored NPC clash with Auckland.

"Yeah, the acid is on us for this game, though that is the sort of pressure we need to have for every match," Willis said. "We are after some consistency and we have not achieved that yet.

"These games are usually great occasions and we need to rise to that."

Wary as Waikato are of Auckland and their own form pattern this season, Auckland are guarded about their prospects after their last-outing loss to North Harbour.

They lost seasoned lock Robin Brooke yesterday to a lingering hand injury and he has been replaced by another former All Black, Charles Riechelmann.

Coach Wayne Pivac wants a lot more energy from his forwards after the way they were subdued by Harbour.

Searancke has the same wish-list after revamping half his pack.

The experience of captain Deon Muir, flanker Jonno Gibbes, lock Mark Cooksley and prop Deacon Manu has returned, but their reputations will not impress Searancke unless they deliver.

'Some of these guys have to prove themselves in this game," the coach said.

"We have a number of players who have proved themselves at this level in the past, but now have to do it again."

The side picked tonight was the No 1 Waikato choice in name only. Without production to match their reputations, they would be replaced.

Willis' recognition has dimmed since late 1998 and 1999, when he played 11 tests.

He surged again with the Chiefs this season, but then had another groin operation.

Talk about All Black locks switched to Chris Jack, Norm Maxwell, Troy Flavell and Cooksley, while others such as Todd Blackadder, Brad Thorn, Dion Waller, Vula Maimuri, Glenn Taylor and Robin Brooke commanded attention for a variety of reasons.

The word on Willis was resoundingly quiet.

But he felt after three games that his fitness and impact were returning.

"It has been very frustrating missing out on the All Blacks since the last World Cup. But now I feel I am enjoying rugby again, and when I enjoy it I play better," he said.

The 26-year-old thought he might have been reinstated in the All Black squad after getting back into Super 12 form with the Chiefs.

"But I was more gutted for Deon Muir. I could not understand him missing out.

"He is a great player and we look to him for style and leadership," Willis said.

That inspiration will be there for Waikato tonight, with Muir recovered after a fortnight out with concussion and rib problems.

Waikato also have a backline full of All Black experience who, on paper, are even more potent than Auckland.

The home side will be asking for plenty of aggression from their loose trio, and will expect big games from key players such as Christian Califano, Steve Devine, Carlos Spencer and Eroni Clarke to fire their production.

Waikato are fourth with 15 points from five matches, a point ahead of Auckland, who have played a game less.