Rugby: Soakai relishes battle with former mentor

Highlanders flanker Alando Soakai has formed a lethal loose trio with George Naoupu and Adam Thomson. Photo / Getty Images

Alando Soakai is relishing the prospect of a personal duel with a former teammate when the Highlanders challenge the Blues for the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy at Eden Park on Friday night.

Soakai, 25, will go head to head with former Highlanders flanker Josh Blackie in a confrontation which is expected to have considerable bearing on whether the Highlanders can break their losing streak in Auckland.

They have won only once at Eden Park, 20-13 in 2002, since Super rugby began in 1996 while Otago has not won at the ground since 1976.

Soakai, who has been one of the standout openside flankers of the Super 14, said he had a lot to thank Blackie for. "I learnt a lot from Josh when he was down here in Dunedin. He was someone I looked up to during my first couple of years with Otago and the Highlanders.

"I'm ready to give it a good crack against Josh this weekend and I'm looking forward to it."

Soakai has formed a formidable loose trio this season with George Naoupu and Adam Thomson but he was quick to emphasise the entire Highlanders team would need to be on their A game to beat the Blues.

"George is a strong runner, Adam is playing great rugby and we feed off each other as a unit. It's good."

Soakai said the Hunter Trophy meant a lot both to Otago and to the Highlanders.

"And it's reached that time of the year where the game is a must-win. Both teams are desperate for wins and this match will probably decide whether we're still in the hunt (for the top four) or not.

"The Blues are a very dangerous team from 1 to 15, and they've got good players on the bench. They've always had an attacking backline and Josh showed last week how important he is to the Blues.

"They're in your face. You've got to take away the gain line and make your tackles stick. You've got to be on your A game."

It has been an excellent season for Soakai, who came into the Super 14 after six months rehabilitation following shoulder surgery.

"It was a time which put a lot of things in perspective," he said. "It allowed me to set myself a few goals and make sacrifices which I needed to improve my game."

To that end, Soakai has sworn off alcohol for the duration of the Super 14.

"Anything that gives me an extra edge is worthwhile. I looked at my previous seasons for the Highlanders and I don't believe I quite played to my maximum."

Auckland is Soakai's old home town. He attended Auckland Grammar School where his teammates included Ben Atiga, Benson Stanley and Isa Nacewa.

Soakai said team morale, confidence and belief were high in the Highlanders after four wins from the last five games.

"The only way we can build on that is to actually win more games."

But any prospect of complacency was erased by an unconvincing 24-19 win over the Queensland Reds in Invercargill last weekend.

"We were just relieved to win. It was another example of a team struggling after the bye. Some of the guys were battling to get their second wind going.

"You can train as much as you like during bye week but match fitness is a totally different thing."

There is one change to the Highlanders' starting lineup from that which played the Reds, Fetu'u Vainikolo replacing Kendrick Lynn on the left wing.

- NZPA