Hooker growing on Mo Schwalger

Mahonri Schwalger

Wellington hooker Mahonri Schwalger describes himself as a pretty basic fella.

"I kept my head down. I went to school, ate my lunch and played rugby," he said.

The recipe has worked although it has taken some time and fortune for Schwalger to make the sort of impact he has this season as Wellington head into tomorrow's Air New Zealand Cup final.

He lines up against Waikato in a Wellington side which still hopes tighthead prop Neemia Tialata can recover from his calf injury. Tialata has been bracketed with Schwalger's second cousin, John Schwalger, while Ben Herring keeps his place ahead of All Black flanker Chris Masoe.

Wellington coach John Plumtree spoke optimistically about Tialata's recovery after a scrum session yesterday.

"He came through it all right. He's a pretty big man, and there's a lot of weight on those calves.

"There's a slight tear there, but it's in the best possible place if you're going to tear a calf," said Plumtree.

For years Mo Schwalger resisted suggestions he switch from openside flanker to the front row.

Both he and Keven Mealamu went to the under-19 trials as opensiders and missed out on national selection. At that tournament they were both advised by coach and former All Black Mark Shaw that they should switch to play hooker.

"There was no way I was going to do that," Schwalger said. "Keven decided to change, but I was reluctant until I got a contract with Hawkes Bay in 2001. Then Mark Shaw became coach and I had no alternative."

Schwalger has enjoyed the change, using his speed, ball handling and athleticism as weapons in the modern game.

"It is the toughest position, but I like the contact, too, and I have good fitness, and Plums [coach John Plumtree] said he wanted me to smash into people all day. I really want to be a success."

Schwalger played for the Highlanders last year but missed the cut for this year's inaugural Super 14.

There are murmurs the 28-year-old will take up an overseas contract next, but his "dream to play for the Hurricanes" should be realised at next week's announcement because All Black hooker Andrew Hore will be exempt from the first half of the Super 14.

Two years ago Schwalger was part of a Wellington side which succumbed to Canterbury in the national championship final. They lost out that year to experience, the sort of trait they believe will help them in tomorrow's challenge.

"We have been happy with our form and we have just got to go out there and have fun," Schwalger said. "We have been concentrating on that."