Flavell ready to lose bad-boy image

Troy Flavell plans to convince the public his ways have changed. Picture / Dean Purcell

For someone not long off a plane from Japan, Troy Flavell was generous with his time yesterday and even more tolerant dealing with questions about his rugby discipline.

The former All Black loose forward accepted he would come under enormous scrutiny in his comeback season in New Zealand with the Blues.

"Over the years I have been branded as the bad-boy sort of image so I am going to try and lose that," he said.

"I realise it is going to take a while, it is going to take a lot of convincing to convince the public and the media and everything else."

First step was having a strong season with the Blues to push his All Black claims. Beyond that, Flavell nominated the 2007 World Cup as his ultimate target.

He had been encouraged in those quests in the past two seasons through regular contact with All Black coach Graham Henry.

The 29-year-old Flavell had not been expected to join the Blues until next month. But his Japanese contract ended when his club suffered a shock weekend defeat in the national championship and he will train with the Blues today.

Flavell will not be picked for their second-round away match on Friday against the Highlanders but will be available for the next match, against the Reds.

He felt he would need a few weeks to adjust after Japan to the different pace of Super 14. Even though he had just come off a long season with the Toyota club, he still felt fresh, he said.

Given a choice he would prefer to play blindside flanker but was equally comfortable at lock.

Flavell said he had suffered a few yellow cards in Japan for "technical offences" such as lying on the ball but he felt referees there tended to single out foreign players.

He expected similar surveillance in the Super 14 but was prepared for that.

"I realise there will be a lot of expectation with my performance but I just want to play my natural game and play it well.

"I know I have got to control my aggression, play disciplined rugby and be on the field playing consistent rugby."

TROY FLAVELL

Age: 29.

Super debut: 1998 (Chiefs).

All Black debut: 2000 v Tonga.

Tests: 15.

* Blues midfielder Anthony Tuitavake will play against his old Highlanders side on Friday after teammate Ben Atiga suffered serious facial and dental injuries in what management said was a freak gym accident.

No 8 Angus Macdonald is still troubled by a hamstring strain and if he is ruled out, Nick Williams is likely to move to the back of the scrum with Justin Collins added on the blindside.