Good vibrations
14 Feb 2006
Blues lock Troy Flavell claims to have left his “bad boy” days behind him.
Flavell arrived back in Auckland on Tuesday having finally completed his commitments with the Toyota club in Japan.
His last Super 12 season with the Blues in 2003, was wrecked by a 12-week suspension for stomping on Chiefs hooker Greg Smith.
“It would probably be fair to say I was no angel back a few year ago,” Flavell told Marc Hinton on xtramsn.co.nz. “Now I’m back I’m looking forward. I want to have a good season with the Blues and obviously the All Blacks thing is in the back of my mind. I know I’ve got to control my aggression and play disciplined rugby, and be on the field playing consistent rugby.”
Flavell hopes that the Super 14 referees he encounters this year will treat him fairly.
“Over the years I’ve been branded with the ‘bad boy’ image,” he said. “I’m going to try and lose that. I realise it’s going to take a while and it’s going to take a lot of convincing as well. [I've got] to convince the public and the media and everyone else. I’ve got goals and I want to achieve them.”
The second rower is expected to make his first Blues appearance against the Reds in Brisbane on 23 February.
19 Comments
14 Feb 2006, 11:24 am
Troy Flavell’s arrival probably means it bye-bye to South African Greg Rawlinson, as the other Blues lock is All Black Ali Williams.
14 Feb 2006, 11:29 am
Rawlinson didn’t do much last Friday.
14 Feb 2006, 11:29 am
What!!?? Is he crazy ?? … Agression was the only thing that made him a good playa … I quite enjoyed the Gerg Smith stomping … Any stomper of a Nzlander is a friend of mine …
14 Feb 2006, 11:30 am
Anyway, he, Rawlinson, now sees himself as an Kiwi, not unlike you Tackler!?!
14 Feb 2006, 11:32 am
Think he would of played more games for the All Blacks if he was’nt such a dirty player.
14 Feb 2006, 11:37 am
Greg rawlinson is a far better player than Ali Williams. Both of them were just KAK.
Got to push for Rawlinson becomming an All Black it would PROBABLY MAKE TACKLDOOS support Japan.
14 Feb 2006, 11:42 am
Greg must stay there now, got his chance.
Who gives a toss what happens to him.
14 Feb 2006, 11:54 am
Could never understand why the AB made such a fuss about Rawlinson to start with probably because they have a real shortage of quality locks.Always thought he was no more than average. Flavell coming back though will surely help he is a quality player.
14 Feb 2006, 11:58 am
A leopard doesnt change its spots.
Thats why he is called The Thug in NZ.
A guaranteed couple of yellow cards.
14 Feb 2006, 12:12 pm
That would = a red card wouldn’t it???
14 Feb 2006, 12:21 pm
“Could never understand why the AB made such a fuss about Rawlinson to start with …”
Actually, they didn’t. And they haven’t.
They went on tour to the UK with more than enough good locks to win all their Grand Slam tests. And they haven’t tied Rawlinson down with a jersey for the sevens team or anything like that. He can choose whether he wants to be in contention for a NZ or a SA jersey, and will probably not earn either.
Not if he can’t even hold down a Auckland Blues jersey against Troy Flavell!
14 Feb 2006, 12:21 pm
eventually yes!
14 Feb 2006, 12:25 pm
whats this okes measurements? why do I seem to remember him as more of a 8thman?
14 Feb 2006, 15:01 pm
grune, smith was the Fijian captain.
14 Feb 2006, 18:27 pm
TheTackler
Dont know about that tackler watched the nz rugga show and he was right up their on their mvp competition where guys like mexted and other experts on the show vote for the npc player of the year. finished second behind mcallister 2 seasons ago and he either won it or finished second last season.
Also he was drafted into the NZ A side before qualifying to play for the all blacks so they definately rate the guy im just not quite sure why they definately know more about forward play than i do so perhaps i shouldnt question them.
14 Feb 2006, 22:30 pm
Yeah, he was voted the NPC MVP by the ordinary inexpert couch-potatoes who texted in their votes. And also he did not ever play for NZ “A” because that would “cup-tie” him for life.
None of this alters the fact that Flavell will shift him out of his Blues spot and he’s on the way off the radar screen already. Who knows, he might make himself available for Bok selection!
15 Feb 2006, 00:33 am
They should keep the lock pairing and move Flavell to flank. Put Williams at 8 and McDonald to the bench he looked out of sorts at eightman on Friday.
15 Feb 2006, 07:05 am
ask Richard Hill about what he thinks of Flavell
17 Feb 2006, 13:18 pm
Rawlinson is crapy.NZ can keep him.
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