Rugby: Munro makes most of new opportunity

Lachie Munro is enjoying his rugby in Northland and looking forward to the clash with former Auckland teammates at Kerikeri tomorrow. Photo / Northern Advocate

If Lachie Munro helps guide Northland to victory over Auckland tomorrow, it will feel particularly sweet.

The talented first five-eighths was unwanted by Auckland this season after 29 appearances in the previous three years.

Then Northland - looking to plug the substantial gap left by the retiring David Holwell - came calling. Munro headed north and is relishing his new environment, different teammates and the strong sense of camaraderie which underpins the province and its rugby team.

But any lingering resentment at his rejection is long gone, and that's been helped by getting another chance and a change in location and lifestyle.

"I've had a long time to dwell on it but ever since I came up I've really enjoyed my time," he said.

"It's a different chapter for me, getting out of home, living with some real good people up here and being in a completely different situation to before.

"I want to get up in the morning, want to go to work with these guys and want to play well at weekends for the community."

Munro, who scored a fine solo try and kicked 19 points in Northland's impressive 29-16 win over Taranaki last week, is living at Maungakaramea, 20 minutes southwest of Whangarei, playing for Mid-Western and has been getting paid in meat.

Meat? "Plenty of roasts." The club has been good to him.

There are obvious differences between Auckland and Northland's operation.

The scale is worlds apart, but Munro has quickly come to appreciate the strengths of playing for a smaller union. Elements which might be difficult to achieve in a city of Auckland's size can be a turned to a real asset elsewhere.

"The team culture up here is fantastic and possibly a little tighter than in Auckland," he said.

"Everyone sticks together pretty well. In Auckland you grow up and have your own mates, then you play rugby but you don't necessarily hang out together outside rugby.

"Here the guys go fishing and play golf together and it generates an atmosphere within the team."

Munro brings a different skill set to Northland from Holwell, who has headed back to the farm after years of outstanding service. He left hefty boots to fill.

The two men are vastly different footballers but Northland coach Bryce Woodward likes what he's seeing from Munro.

"David provided real accuracy, a hard attitude and a lot of uncomplicated skills, if you like," Woodward said.

"Lachie is a very good athlete, and that can have its ups and downs.

"His challenge and mine is to refine his game, cut the errors out and get the positives as the dominant aspect of his game, and we're making steady improvement in that."

Munro, who played for the national sevens team in 2006, was a late starter in rugby.

The 22-year-old trialled for the national under 18 hockey team and was a dab hand at baseball, attending a camp in Australia, at which major league scouts were eyeing the rising talent in the region.

One other New Zealander was at the camp, Scott Campbell, who is playing minor league baseball and pushing for a spot on the Toronto Blue Jays major league franchise.

Northland will get sick of being linked with the issue of relegation from the Air New Zealand Cup this season.

However they've begun encouragingly, getting a bonus point off Bay of Plenty before turning over Taranaki.

A win tomorrow should turn certain assumptions on their head.

It is shaping as a big occasion at Kerikeri, the first time Northland have played a national championship home game outside Whangarei in 33 years.

And Munro, up against old chums from Auckland, Grammar Carlton club and his Auckland Grammar school days, like opposing No 10 Ash Moeke and the Stanley brothers, can't wait.

"You have a bit of banter before the game, then get out there and it's all turned on for 80 minutes.

"I'm obviously pretty barred up for this weekend. It would be great to knock these guys over."