Rugby: Hill still up for battle with Force

The decision to call David Hill looked like a dubious one at first for the Force, but it is now starting to pay dividends. Photo / Getty Images

Two games after David Hill traded in his holiday warrant to play for the Force the former All Black wondered about his judgment.

Hill was concerned he was not sharp enough for the Super 14 after answering an SOS request from his old coach John Mitchell for the five-eighths to abandon his time off in Japan and head for Perth.

Most of that apprehension has since evaporated as the Force steadied and Hill banged over a final-act dropped goal to kick-start their mini-revival of consecutive victories. Now the 31-year-old heads to Eden Park for Saturday's meeting with the old Blues enemy.

At that same venue in 2004 and 2006, he helped the Chiefs overcome their neighbouring rivals and in that final season also claimed his solitary test cap as a six-minute substitute against Ireland.

Hill left New Zealand later that year as an NPC champion and spent time playing for Bristol, then the last two seasons at a more leisurely clip for Toshiba in Japan. He will return for another couple of years with Kiwi teammates Steven Bates, Neil Brew and Warren Smith but not until his latest Super 14 campaign is done.

"It is not as taxing, it is a good place for family life and gives me a bit longer in the game until I work out what I will do after rugby," the 31-year-old said.

"When Mitch rang I was keen to help out. It was a unique opportunity, I did not have to go through any pre-season and there was no great expectation on me.

"I just figured it was a great chance to have one more crack at this level of football."

That decision was beginning to look a little dodgy after Hill and his new cronies were shredded by the Reds and the five-eighths spent time in the sinbin.

It was only marginally better next up against the Waratahs but there were signs of improvement against the Bulls.

"After five games now, the body feels as though it has ironed itself out and we are starting to pick up," Hill said.

"Since I left New Zealand, I had not watched a lot of the Super 14 until they changed the rules. That has made it a much better spectacle though I worried the game might be too fast or too frantic, but I've found it has not changed massively since I was last involved."

Hill has been fascinated by his latest change of rugby scenery and observing how an Australian side dealt with a campaign and prepared for matches. Players in the Force spent more time studying and planning for games than he recalled New Zealand sides doing.

"I have been away for four years and I'm not sure what they are doing with their analysis now, but I recall New Zealand teams relying more on their natural instincts than perhaps we do at the Force," he said.