BACK TO THE FUTURE: It is a long way from chewing sushi in Japan to the test field in South Africa, but Troy Flavell finds himself the All Blacks' number one lock in this weekend's Tri Nations match against the Springboks. Subscribe to Archivestuff Have your say As he chewed his sushi and drained his sake a couple of years back, Troy Flavell would hardly have dreamed the position he finds himself in this week. Suddenly the All Blacks' first choice lock, Flavell is also charged with calling the lineouts against the Springboks on Sunday (NZ time) in his biggest test since returning from a club rugby stint in Japan in 2006.
It's no small task, with the All Blacks' locking injury crisis and the Springboks' not-so-secret mission to wreak havoc with Anton Oliver's throws at Durban's towering Absa Stadium. Flavell, now a mellow 30-year-old, spoke eagerly of the mission this week ahead of his 21st test since his three-try debut against Tonga in 2000. More so because Greg Rawlinson, his locking partner with the Blues in their run to the Super 14 semifinals, will join him for his fourth test in his city of birth and also the scene of their semifinal defeat by the Sharks last month.
"It is exciting. It's been a long time for me and it's great we've both come through to be here," Flavell said. "It's a great opportunity and it gives me and Dolph another chance to take these guys on, head on.
" Dolph? That's the actor Dolph Lundgren, of similar height, who appears he was separated from Rawlinson at birth. The locking pair will find it tough but they will not be dealt any surprises by abrasive Springboks second rowers Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha, who helped spur the Bulls to their first Super 14 title.
Flavell said their match in Pretoria was the Blues' most torrid and physical of the year, and only reinforced their view of Matfield as the world's premier lineout exponent. "We know how each other plays, we know what they're capable of. "(Matfield) does a lot of homework.
He studies teams and works out where key players are who trigger the lineouts. "I think he's just a good reader of the opposition lineout. That's something we'd like to be as well.
" Rawlinson will play his first test since last August when he started the 45-26 win over the Springboks in Pretoria. He replaces Ross Filipo, after joining the side last week from the Junior All Blacks. "He (Rawlinson) got thrown into it last week and he's been doing his homework.
He's one of those players who needs to get mentally prepared nice and early," Flavell said. "He's definitely loosened up in the way he approaches a game over the years. He used to headbutt walls but he's chilled out a bit.
" Flavell only took over the lineout calls against Canada last weekend when Ali Williams was ruled out by a broken jaw suffered against France. Flavell said he was "fairly comfortable" with the role, the same he performed during his outstanding year with the Blues which demanded his All Blacks inclusion. Assistant coach Steve Hansen this week said he was confident the recent lineout tweaking would address some of the issues faced against the Springboks last year, notably when the All Blacks lost 20-21 in Rustenberg.
Flavell said ensuring the maximum 1m gap between the lineouts made it tougher for South Africa's jumpers and lifters to get it right on the opposition throw. After watching the Wallabies make a statement in the 19-22 loss in Cape Town last weekend, Flavell said it was important for the All Blacks to physically impose themselves in World Cup year. "I think the Australians played really well, defensively they were quite sound and that's one of the areas South Africa struggled with, that fast defence up in their face.
We've got to be aggressive in that area." BACK TO THE FUTURE: It is a long way from chewing sushi in Japan to the test field in South Africa, but Troy Flavell finds himself the All Blacks' number one lock in this weekend's Tri Nations match against the Springboks.
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