Hickey, 20, a wider training group player who has confirmed himself as the Blues' best option at No10 after performing well when starting against the Crusaders and Bulls and as an impact player against the Lions, is not likely to let his sudden rise in profile go to his head. In starting in the pivotal position, Hickey has been rated higher than Chris Noakes, Baden Kerr and Benji Marshall.
A talented cricketer while at King's College not so long ago, Hickey's temperament has not wavered yet this season - whether it has been getting back up from a late tackle on debut against the Crusaders to coolly kicking for goal on the Highveld.
"Now that I have been given the opportunity and have played a few games, I have to try to cement a spot," Hickey said. "I don't want to fall out of that position. I just have to keep playing well and as a team we really need to pick up our act. It's an important game this weekend and an important few weeks so hopefully we can get on a bit of a roll and get ourselves back into contention."
Hickey's goalkicking has been one of the areas in which he has been very impressive. He is kicking at 93 per cent - better than the far more experienced Aaron Cruden (73 per cent), Tom Taylor (76 per cent) and Beauden Barrett (71 per cent) - and his impressive statistics have probably been helped by the need to simplify his technique. Along with Lions' first-five Marnitz Boshoff, Hickey is the most accurate in the competition among those who have taken more than two shots at goal.
"I used to practice a lot more than I do now. I've had a bit of a niggly groin over the past few years so I only really kick once or twice a week and that's a limited amount of kicking. I think that helps because it simplifies it all in your head and you don't get too confused."
Coach Sir John Kirwan is reluctant to put pressure on Hickey either physically or mentally. Kirwan said he was conscious of Hickey's age which was why he started him from the bench against the Lions. In talking about his selection yesterday, Kirwan was also relatively low key.
"I thought he came on last week and really showed some spark," Kirwan said. When asked if Hickey was his best No10, he replied: "I'm going to pick on form and he's on form at the moment so he's getting a start."
For Hickey, the South African trip was all part of his learning experience, as was training alongside the likes of Marshall, Ma'a Nonu and Jerome Kaino.
"South Africa was a different challenge I wasn't really used to. They play a different style of rugby and are pretty physical so that was I guess tough but I learned a bit going over there.
"It's pretty exciting training with some of those players who are awesome players, up there with the best in their position in the world. It boosts the spirits a little bit in the camp."
Blues team to play the Cheetahs at Eden Park on Saturday, kick-off 7.35pm is: Charles Piutau, Frank Halai, George Moala, Jackson Willison, Tevita Li, Simon Hickey, Piri Weepu, Peter Saili, Luke Braid (c), Steven Luatua, Tom Donnelly, Liaki Moli, Charlie Faumuina, James Parsons, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Tom McCartney, Angus Ta'avao, Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Jerome Kaino, Hayden Triggs, Bryn Hall, Ma'a Nonu, Benji Marshall.
Cheetahs: Willie le Roux, Cornal Hendricks, Johann Sadie, Rayno Benjamin, Hennie Daniller, Johan Goosen, Sarel Pretorious, Philip van der Walt, Jean Cook, Boom Prinsloo, Francois Uys, Lodewyk de Jager, Maks van Dyk, Adriaan Strauss (c), Calib Oosthuizen. Reserves: Ryno Barnes, Trevor Nyakane, Rossouw de Klerk, Andries Ferreira, Lappies Labuschagne, Shaun Venter, Elgar Watts, Howard Mnisi.
- By Patrick McKendry of APNZ
