Young Mako take on the world
Three young Tasman Mako players will face fireworks on the field and flares off it as they gear up for the under-20 World Championship in Italy.
The trio, hooker Eli Oudenryn, 19, outside back Maloni Kunawave, 20, and midfield back Cooper Roberts, 20, leave with the New Zealand under-20 team next week, along with three Mako staff members, manager Huw Beynon, analyst Luca Roden and physiotherapist Richie Marsden.
Beynon said the Tasman contingent was a strong representation from one of the country’s smallest unions.
New Zealand’s first game is against the host country in the rugby heartland town of Calvisano, near Verona in northern Italy on June 30 New Zealand time.
On a reconnaissance tour in March, Beynon attended club games in the town’s stadium where the atmosphere was pumped up with flares and drums in the stands.
“It’s going to be loud and passionate, so that will be a cool moment for the boys.”
The Mako trio experienced full-throttle of international rugby when they featured in winning under 20 Rugby Championship campaign in South Africa last month.
Before a 20,000-strong crowd at Mandela Bay Stadium, in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) they edged the hosts 48-45 to defend the title, after thrashing Argentina and draw with Australia.
Roberts is a product of Marlborough Boys College and Kunawave came to Nelson via Fiji and Rotorua. Both made their Tasman debut against Otago last year.
For Oudenryn, it’s been a rapid rugby journey from leaving Palmerston North Boys High School two years ago.
Last year he joined the Crusaders academy, based in Nelson, played club rugby for Stoke and then made his Mako debut against Waikato in Hamilton last September. He also played for Tasman against Otago and got a brief taste of Ranfurly Shield rugby in the loss to Taranaki.
He played in the Crusaders under 20 team that won the Super Rugby tournament in March this year. He was working as a drainlayer, “chipping away on the shovel” when he got the call from the New Zealand selectors that he had made the national under-20 team.
Walking onto the field in South Africa was a “pretty unreal experience”.
“Obviously never put on a black jersey before so to run out there and sing your national anthem was pretty awesome.”
New Zealand have Italy, Ireland and Georgia in their world championship pool, and if they make it through they could face northern hemisphere powers England or France in the knockout phase.
Oudenryn said he was looking forward to the challenge of testing his set piece and ball playing skills against the best young players in the world.
“I think it’ll be full-on from that first whistle.”
By Warren Gamble, Nelson Mail
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