Rugby: Manu focused on his final 80 minutes

Highlanders co-captain Nasi Manu before a light training run at Forsyth Barr Stadium yesterday....
Highlanders co-captain Nasi Manu before a light training run at Forsyth Barr Stadium yesterday. Photo by Gerard O'Brien.
Sentiment, nostalgia - Nasi Manu is not big on them.

In fact, he has not even started packing for his next big adventure.

The first job comes, logically, first. All the others can wait.

Manu (26), who has signed a two-year deal with Edinburgh, has 80 minutes left to play for his beloved Highlanders.

He has one thing on his mind and it is not house prices in the Scottish capital.

The Hurricanes loom large for Manu and what he can do to finish ahead of them tonight.

''For me, it is about going up there and doing my job. I have been here for six years now and to get to the final is awesome for us,'' he said.

''It is just exciting to play in the final for my last game. But it's not about me. I just hope I can go out there and play well for the boys.''

Manu said the nerves were bound to kick in and he just had to stay focused on his role on both the defensive and attacking side of the game.

''We have just gone into that mode of winning every day. If you do that then you can help that make you win on Saturday. I think we have done well leading up to today and given us the best chance for the game.

''The key is for whatever team can cope with the pressure, and show discipline. For us tomorrow, there is no Monday. This is it. The last game and leave it all out there. Our mentality is there is no next week so we are going to have to play the whole 80.''

The big No 8 said he had not started packing for his overseas jaunt.

''I've deliberately not packed my bags. My partner, Alice, told me not to pack so my mindset is totally on wanting to finish it here. But we'll pack up on Monday and then leave to Christchurch and get our visas sorted. The first job is to get that done and then out of here.''

Manu had a career which did not start well for the Highlanders.

He injured his knee in his first game in 2010 which wrecked the season.

But he came back the following year and, all up, has played 64 games for the Highlanders.

He briefly walked down memory lane yesterday talking about the years with the side.

''I was talking with Lima [Sopoaga], how back in 2011, when we all came together. Just about where we have come from and now getting to the promised land. It has been great for all that hard work we've done and now we get the chance.''

Manu took a bang to his right eye last weekend and the muscles at the top of the eye are not working.

If it does not come right before tonight he will use some tape to keep it open. He said there was no way it would stop him from playing.

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