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Kahui robbed of his big challenge

Wednesday 23rd July 2008

Richard Kahui: A little flat

Richard Kahui makes his competitive international debut on Saturday in the Bledisloe Cup Tri-Nations match against Australia, but the injury to Stirling Mortlock has left Kahui slightly flat.

Mortlock has long been a nemesis for the New Zealand side, after his intercept try in the 2003 World Cup semi-final and his performance in Melbourne last year during Australia's 20-15 victory.

Mortlock's cocussion sustained against South Africa last week means Ryan Cross will now fill Australia's number thirteen jersey. A big enough challenge, but after all the mental preparation Kahui had done for Mortlock, the young centre must now re-build himself once more.

"He (Mortlock) was the best centre when I was just coming through, he was someone who I always looked up to," Kahui said to the NZPA.

"I've tried to model a little bit of my game around the way he plays and it was a bit of a fairytale really starting my first Tri-Nations test against Australia, a team who, when I was growing up, I always looked up to.

"It's a bit disappointing, but it won't dampen my enthusiasm for the game."

Kahui, who marked his full international debut against England with a try almost with his first touch of the ball in June, played against Cross during this year's Super 14, and knows he will have a big task to face.

"He's got all the skills, plenty of pace and he's actually a pretty big man so I'm going to have my hands full," he said.