By Shaun Summerfield
Should Adam Thompson or Kieran Read be forced out of the Rugby World Cup, Waikato's Liam Messam remains the ideal replacement.
Right now though, the only cup the Mooloo man is focused on is the ITM.
The temporary grandstands at Waikato Stadium are a steel framed reminder of what Messam missed out on after bring cut from the World Cup squad last week. Not that he needs help remembering.
“I've got some really good mates in this team and just to get alongside them, and joke around, a few boys have been teasing me about missing the cup squad. So it's good to put a bit of humour to it,” he says.
While he prepares for this weekend’s ITM Cup, the World Cup is not entirely off Messam’s radar, with All Black loosies Read and Thompson battling injury.
“I haven't given any thought to that; it's disappointing that both those guys got injured. I guess for New Zealand’s sake I hope they are alright,” he says.
Back in his favoured blindside spot, instead of the less suited 8 for the All Blacks, Messam was at his bullocking best in the Mooloo's 26-19 win over Auckland.
“I've just got to go out there and do my best for this Waikato side. We've got a chance to win the ITM Cup, so make sure I do that right,” he says.
But as Messam can attest, the threat of injury remains a tender point.
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