'I'll keep pushing hard' - The unheralded Kiwi who could become Australia's World Cup bolter
He’s been integral to Melbourne’s charge to the top of the Australian Super Rugby ladder, but hooker Anaru Rangi doesn’t appear to be on the radar of Wallabies coach Michael Cheika
Despite the World Cup six just months away and the Wallabies No.2 role far from being settled, Rangi says he hasn't had any contact from Cheika this year so is seemingly out of the mix.
Try-scoring Brumbies hooker Folau Fainga'a appears the frontrunner along with veteran Tatafu Polota-Nau.
Fellow Rebels hooker Jordan Uelese, who was in the Wallabies frame until suffering a knee injury mid last year, is still a month away from playing.
Ahead of their clash with the Sunwolves at AAMI Park on Saturday night Rangi said all he could do was keep performing in the hope of catching the eyes of selectors.
He hoped that his age - 30 - didn't count against him.
"It's still a huge carrot that I'm chasing," said the Kiwi-born rake, who qualifies for the Wallabies through residency.
"I hope it's form that matters most, and hard work, and as long as I keep doing that I reckon I still have a crack.
"It's still fairly early days so I'll keep pushing hard."
Rangi, who worked as a builder before making his Super Rugby debut for the Western Force in 2016, won the Rebels' players' player last season.
He credited his rise to prominence to the stiff competition for a starting jersey at Melbourne, with fellow Kiwi Robbie Abel, Uelese and rising star Hugh Roach also pushing for a start.
"There's massive competition here every week, competing, scratching and clawing to get every minute you can on the weekend," Rangi said.
"When you're training at that kind of intensity, come the game it's almost just like another training run."
While he gave up midweek beers and changed his diet when he got serious about his rugby, Rangi said the Rebels were now at him to add some more bulk to his 117kg frame.
But he didn't want to if it would affect his work-rate, which has proved so valuable for the team.
"The conditioning team wouldn't mind if I put a bit of weight on but I like to be busy out there and the work-rate thing is a big thing for me," he said.
AAP
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Think it was a great defensive performance by Northampton. They didn't have stage fright in the first half, the Nienaber defense smothered them. They limited Leinster to 15-3 in the first half. It could have been over by then. A great try from Leinster in the start of the second half looked to have sealed it. But Byrne missed another conversion. Northampton started trying little kicks behind the Leinster wingers. Leinster messed one and Smith brilliantly made the conversion. Leinster decided to tighten the game after Byrne missed a straight forward penalty. A few errors got NH into the 22 and they scored and converted with a few minutes left. Another brilliant steal from Lawes saw NH have a final attack which was turned over by Conan. A classic semi final. World record attendance of 82,300. Leinsters 3 week preparation warranted for this one.
Go to commentsJust came back from the game and the atmosphere was amazing. Players stayed afterwards for more than a hour to sign stuff and take photos with fans. Great day out.
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