Ailnley happy to do the donkey work [Fairfax]
By Alex Ainley's own admission, his job is simply to push in the scrums, jump in the lineouts and hit rucks.
Even for a team as enterprising as the Tasman Makos, someone has to do the donkey work. That's Ainley's domain.
The 33-year-old lock is also required to "make the odd tackle" and just occasionally, he might get to share in the spoils by contributing a rare try. Ainley was indeed part of the try-scoring action last Sunday against Wellington, crossing for one of the Makos' five tries in their comprehensive 42-20 ITM Cup rugby win which also heralded Tasman's first ever success over the Lions. It was only Ainley's fourth try in 58 appearances for the province.
However, Ainley also recalls with some humour narrowly missing a second after finding himself in space somewhere near Wellington's quarter line late in the second half. Despite a bold bid for the line, he was eventually chased down by a desperate Wellington defence.
"My legs were fine, it was my head-space, I didn't know where I was," Ainley joked.
"I'm not used to making gaps . . . I was bit lost out there . . . and then I gave the pass to them, which was a bit unfortunate."
But victory was certainly sweet.
"It was bloody good to beat them, finally. We had a short turnaround but we had enough time to do some homework on them, sort out a few weaknesses and how we were going to attack them . . . and it worked."
It's become part of the Makos' modus operandi that they'll attack at every conceivable opportunity. They're a confident side and within reason, are given free rein to follow those instincts - even the tighties.
"We're given free licence from KK [coach Kieran Keane], you know, if it's on, you have a crack, no matter where you are or what position. So if it's on to go, [then] go.
"Everybody knows they can have a good shot at it, have a crack if it opens up . . . it makes it a bit more fun and entertaining."
Ainley's now one of the team's elder statesmen, having returned to Tasman last year after three seasons playing club rugby for the Mitsubishi Dynaboars in Japan. He'd debuted in Tasman's inaugural ITM Cup match, against North Harbour in 2006.
At 1.97m and 108kg, he's also well-equipped to handle the grunt work that's become a key part of implementing the Makos' up-tempo approach. He's thriving in his core role and clearly enjoying the success that's come with it.
"I think it's definitely just confidence. The boys play for each other, they know there's a lot of good players in the team and that was proven last year when a lot of them picked up Super 15 contracts - and deservedly so.Ainley acknowledged that there was a fine line between confidence and arrogance, "but I don't think there's any arrogance in the team at all".
"A lot of the boys are homegrown and it goes to show, especially for the young boys in the town, that the next step can be taken while playing for Tasman."
Otago are the next team in Tasman's sights - a team Tasman has only beaten once in eight previous encounters, having also battled to a 21-21 draw back in 2008. So Ainley's aware of the potential difficulties posed by an Otago team steeped in rugby tradition.
"They're a good side, they put Waikato to the sword [last week] and they almost knocked over Canterbury as well, so they are a quality team - as a lot of teams are at the moment - it's just how they play on the day."
However, Ainley said that Tasman will take a typically confident approach into Sunday's Trafalgar Park clash.
"Without encroaching on the arrogance side of it, I think we are confident, we're playing well and have got a good setpiece, [we] take it to the line, we've got some attacking exciting backs who can score tries."
He said it was a special feeling to be part of such a talented forward pack.
"You look at the guys we've got there, you know, they're Super 15 stars. Other than me and possibly Pete Samu - who I'm sure will be picked up this year - the rest are Super 15, so it's not a bad pack to play in."
- The Nelson Mail
