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Masoe eyes a roaring farewell

October 15 2008

Wellington flanker Chris Masoe is banking on a roaring exit from the Lions franchise with a winner's medal in his suitcase before he leaves the New Zealand capital for French shores.

The former All Blacks' jack of all trades is set to join France Top 14 club Castres on a two-year deal following the conclusion of the Air New Zealand Cup, but has some unfinished business before he boards the plane.

First up is a home semi-final against Southland at the fortress that has become Westpac Stadium, with a potential final at the same venue should everything go according to plan.

Masoe played 20 Tests for his country - the shock World Cup quarter-final defeat to France in Cardiff being his last - and was a regular member of Graham Henry's side until he was surprisingly dropped from the All Blacks' set-up this year.

The unwanted All Black loose forward has put the disappointments of not making the squad behind him and is now focused on taking Wellington to their first title since 2000.

The Lions have come close, falling at the final hurdle last year (to Auckland) and the year before (to Waikato). But with just one loss to account for this season, 2008 could be Wellington's year.

"To have lost just one game and win all the rest is a big achievement, but playing in the semi-finals is a completely different story," Masoe told Planet Rugby in an exclusive interview.

"We're in the knock-out stages and while there's still plenty to gain, there's even more to lose if things don't go our way.

"But we're confident enough to do the business, and expect Southland to come up here and really give it their best."

Having already gone one better this year by dispatching their semi-final visitors 26-7 in Round Four of the round-robin stage of the tournament, as well as sweeping past the Stags 45-3 in their previous play-offs outing last year, Masoe refuses to take Southland lightly.

"It's going to be a hard match that's for sure," said Masoe.

"We played them in the round-robin this year and beat them comfortably, and last year was a pretty one-sided affair.

"But there's no way Southland are coming here just to make up the numbers. They've made it into the final four for a reason, they got nothing to lose and we've just got to be on our game.

"It's not going to be easy, most games aren't. Personally, I treat every match I play as a hard game anyway - so this won't be any different."

It's hard to believe that Wellington will be hosting their first Air New Zealand Cup semi-final having won both previously played away from home in 2006 and 2007.

They are also the only team to appear in an Air New Zealand Cup semi-final in all three years of the competition, and will feel confident of hosting their first final.

However it's been argued that Wellington haven't been the same side since they took the Ranfurly Shield from Auckland and have slipped from their previously impeccable standard over the last three weeks.

They were poor in the Shield defence against Tasman, lost to Otago and struggled at times against Taranaki, but Masoe insists the side have it what it takes to keep it together.

"Complacency is definitely something we want to avoid," said Masoe.

"You could say that some of the guys are perhaps suffering from a wee bit of fatigue. It's been a long season, but it's up to the experienced heads to make sure that the younger blokes keep it together.

"Having some of our All Blacks back certainly does help, with the likes of Rodney So'oialo, Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith.

"It's great to have them with us, they bring so much experience to the side and hopefully they can lift the team by another ten or twenty per cent.

"We're also hoping with all them (the All Blacks) back, the younger guys' confidence levels playing in a semi-final will rise up a notch too."

All Blacks aside, Wellington also have a secret weapon in their bid for their first ever Air New Zealand Cup title, a Westpac Stadium base.

Last Saturday's 50-30 quarter-final triumph over Taranaki was their 19th win in a row at the waterfront stadium, and will they will be looking to make that 20 wins in succession at home against Southland.

"It's certainly an advantage (having not lost at home in nineteen outings) and it's always great to have a home semi-final," said Masoe.

"But we're just taking it one game at a time, and the bonus of having a home semi of course means hosting a home final should we get there.

"That's going to be special for the younger guys, as well as the older bunch like me. For the departing players, to wave our home fans goodbye is something we're really looking forward to."

That is, of course, if there is even a crowd to wave goodbye to. New Zealand's domestic tournament has seen a large drop in numbers as far as attendance is concerned, a figure that is more noticeable in the larger stadiums such as Westpac.

But over in South Africa, their southern hemisphere rival's domestic tournament, the Currie Cup, has seen 40,000-seater stadiums sold out on numerous occasions.

"Yeah, we may need to fly over a few Currie Cup supporters," joked Masoe.

"It's true that most stadiums have been pretty empty all season, and I'm not too sure of the reasoning behind that.

"But we're hoping the supporters will come out in full force this weekend and get behind their team. Even more so if we can book our place in the final, and then hopefully the Lions can look forward to playing in front of a big crowd."

In what could possibly be Masoe's last game for Wellington on Saturday - the Hurricanes star is hoping it won't be the case and instead wishes to bow out with a title under his belt. No pressure then?

"There's always pressure, but of course there will be a bit more this time round as I'd like to leave Wellington on a high note," said Masoe.

"I really want to give something back to the province, the franchise and my team-mates who have supported me all these years.

"But I'm going to make sure I enjoy it, and am really looking forward to the weekend ahead and hopefully if everything goes according to plan, the weekend after that!"

Masoe's international record for the All Blacks offers perhaps the best and most striking illustration of the somewhat frustrating pattern of his career.

For while Masoe appeared in 20 Tests, half of them were from the bench, and of the ten he started he was shuffled around in all three of the back row positions, confusing himself as much as anyone.

His powerful 106kg frame meant he was always an effective line-breaker and ball carrier but his relative lack of height didn't always help his cause. He was a difficult player to overlook though, and his qualities made him invaluable as an impact player from the bench.

Whilst Masoe's omission came as a shock, obviously the All Black brains trust saw things in a different way that ultimately led to Masoe's upcoming departure for pastures new.

"I just felt it was the right time for me to move on," said Masoe.

"Rugby in New Zealand is probably the toughest place you'll get to play, and with the talented youngsters coming through, competition is steep.

"That's not to say I'm not up for the challenge, I just want a different one.

"The Heineken Cup and Top 14 really interests me, and to play against some of the best players and clubs in the world really excites me.

"I've only signed up for two years, but to be playing different rugby in a different environment can't do me any harm and we'll just have to see what happens from there."

The softly-spoken Masoe, perhaps proven to be a victim of his own versatility, holds no grudges over Henry after losing his spot in the national pecking order.

"He's a great coach, and I really learnt a lot playing under him (Henry)," said the 29-year-old.

"But sometimes you have to move on and accept what's best for the team."

Masoe joins Castres who are captained by France skipper Lionel Nalett. The side finished fifth in last year's Top 14 championship, but are currently second last so far in this year's outing. Their Heineken Cup campaign also got off to a losing start, going down 11-25 to London Wasps.

"I didn't watch the game... but I hear we got a hiding," said a disgruntled Masoe.

"Hopefully that will all change when I get there though. I just need to brush up a wee bit on my French!"

So as New Zealand prepare to bid yet another All Black farewell, we at Planet Rugby say to Chris Masoe - in the limited French this rugby writer knows - "A bientôt" and "Bon chance!".

By Dave Morris