News

Kahui raring to go for Mooloos

September 30 2008

All Black centre-cum-wing Richard Kahui is looking forward to playing for Waikato again in Thursday's must-win Air New Zealand Cup match against Taranaki.

The Waikato team's back-line has taken on a bit of an All Black look as Test players return to provincial duty, but no one is keener to don the red, yellow and black colours than Kahui.

Kahui, 23, has hit the big time this year with his selection in the All Blacks team, firstly as a centre and latterly as a Tri-Nations wing.

The international commitments have kept him out of Air New Zealand Cup play and because he missed all of last season with a shoulder injury he has not played for Waikato since the 2006 grand final.

"Running around with Stephen Donald at practice, we feel like new boys again," Kahui told the Waikato Times.

"I haven't played since we won the final in 2006 and just to come back and put the colours on, it's where I started and I love playing for Waikato.

"I'm going to be bloody enthusiastic on Thursday night and just looking to give it heaps. It's pretty much like a final for us and if we're all excited I'm sure we will be fine."

He joins fly-half Donald and wing Sitiveni Sivivatu in the Waikato team to take on the Amber and Blacks in a crucial Air New Zealand Cup encounter at Waikato Stadium.

All three trained with the Waikato squad in Hamilton on Monday, along with All Blacks full-back Mils Muliaina, who is not due to return to the fray until next week.

"It's not our job to come back here and play Harlem Globetrotter-type football," said Kahui.

"We will just come back in and do what we need to do and help those young boys grow another leg if we can.

"If we do that it will look like an awesome backline, no matter what jersey we've got on."

Kahui has been to three of Waikato's games this season and maintained close contact, watching a frustrating run of error-ridden losses start to blossom into an impressive last-up performance against Otago.

"When you're losing you look at all the reasons why and forget about the good stuff you're doing," he said.

"To come back now when the guys have got a bit of confidence and I think a bit more belief than they've had all year is great."