Southland went ever-so-close to ending its Mitre 10 Cup losing streak at 18 yesterday at Rugby Park in Invercargill, pushing Bay of Plenty to the wire in the 26-22 defeat.
Selby-Rickit was again one of the Stags’ standouts in a beaten team.
The 2m lock provided Southland with one its biggest attacking threats and got through plenty of work.
He often got his arm free in the tackle, as Southland rugby followers have become accustomed to, and popped up a lot at first receiver.
While Selby-Rickit has obvious skills, it’s his bulk, or lack of it, which he was aware he needed to address if he was to make the transition into a Super Rugby player.
His progress at Mitre 10 Cup level has captured attention from Super Rugby scouts, and the Chiefs and Highlanders are both understood to be interested.
Selby-Rickit said Super Rugby was very much in his sights.
"There is interest. I’m a bit light, I’ve got to put some clicks on and we’ll go from there.
"I am leaning towards the Highlanders. They are going to help me with my development and I think with Aaron Mauger and Mark Hammett up there it’s going to be good for me.
"They’ll give me a lot of help with weight gaining."
Selby-Rickit was previously part of the Manawatu rugby system, but opted to head south last year for a better chance of game time at Mitre 10 Cup level.
The move seems to have paid off, with a fulltime professional rugby gig looming for the brother of Southern Steel netballers Te Paea and Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit.
He said he felt more comfortable in his second year with the Stags this season.
"Last year I didn’t know what to expect, but this year I understand how the game goes and how this competition goes.
"I’m really confident with how I’m going, I’m just happy to have a crack."
On a personal note the 2018 Mitre 10 Cup has been a good one for Selby-Rickit, but as a team, Southland has struggled.
Southland has now equalled Northland’s record of consecutive defeats in New Zealand’s top provincial competition.
Bay of Plenty shot out to a 12-0 lead after as many minutes yesterday before two minutes later Stags wing Lewis Ormond struck to bring it back to 12-5.
When Bay of Plenty crossed for its third try of the day in the 21st minute to push it out to 19-5, hopes of Southland winning its first Mitre 10 Cup game in two years started to fade.
But another of Southland’s standouts yesterday, tight-head prop Morgan Mitchell, crossed before outside backs Tauasosi Tuimavave and Isaac Te Tamaki linked to create arguably Southland’s best try in some time.
Tuimavave delivered a beautiful off-load before Te Tamaki produced a sublime step which left his opposite grasping air as he scooted in to score and make it 19-all.
When James Wilson landed a long-range penalty with 12 minutes to play, Southland found itself in uncharted territory at 22-19 up.
With seven minutes to play though, the hard work for the Stags was in vain, as Kane Leaupepe brushed his way through to score and lift Bay of Plenty to a 26-22 lead.
Southland had one late surge, but with no success.Southland has little time to dwell on the loss. Its next assignment is against Auckland, in Invercargill on Wednesday.
- Logan Savory
Mitre 10 Cup
The scores
Bay of Plenty 26
Bailey Simonsson, Fa’asiu Fuatia, Tom Crozier, Kane Leaupepe tries; Kaleb Trask 3 con
Southland 22
Lewis Ormond, Morgan Mitchelltries, Isaac te Tamaki; James Wilson 2 con, pen. Halftime: 19-12