Rugby: Noakes swaps stumps for studs

Chris Noakes practises his kicking at Otago training yesterday. Photo by Craig Baxter.
Chris Noakes practises his kicking at Otago training yesterday. Photo by Craig Baxter.
First five-eighth Chris Noakes' long-range penalty kick gave Otago a last-gasp win in its season opener against Southland on Saturday. Rugby writer Steve Hepburn talks to Noakes about cricket and not being the only sporting star in the family.

Chris Noakes says if things had gone differently he might have been living in Auckland where his sporting uniform would have been white rather than blue and gold.

Noakes (23) was raised in Auckland and grew up with cricket as one of his strongest sporting interests.

He made junior representative sides and was the captain of the Auckland secondary schools team.

A wicketkeeper and a left-handed batsman, Noakes was keen on the game at school.

He also played rugby at Kings College, making the first XV, but at the end of his school years his future was cloudy.

"I left it pretty late to come down here. Until the applications had nearly closed. But I had a few friends down here and knew people who were already down here so I had a crack."

Now into his fifth year at the University of Otago, part-way through a law and accounting degree, Noakes said he had really enjoyed the Otago University experience, which was everything he expected and more.

He played a couple of games of cricket for Kaikorai the season before last and still wanted to play the summer game.

"I really miss it [cricket]. It was something I really enjoyed."

Unfortunately, he is finding rugby and his studies are getting in the way.

Rugby especially.

"It is just too hard to fit everything in. I think last year with one of the papers I was doing I managed to get to three of the 30 classes. Rugby got in the way.

"The teachers try to help, but they only can do so much. It was a bit of a mad scramble to get through."

He managed to pass last year but this semester had limited himself to two papers.

For the next three months he will be concentrating on backline calls rather than legal jargon.

He said last week's last-gasp 25-23 win was a great start to the season but there was plenty more to do. He first wanted to cement his place in the side, which would be far from easy with Daniel Bowden also looking for a starting spot in the No 10 jersey.

There was also an adjustment to the new experimental law variations after a season under the old rules in club rugby.

"The new rules increase the pace of the game. With the 5m rule back from the scrum it gives you a lot more go-forward . . . you can shift the ball to the outsides a lot more effectively."

As for that winning penalty goal, Noakes said it was perhaps easier having to kick the winning goal from nearly 50m out.

"I was pretty happy to be there rather than it being 35m straight out in front, where everyone would expect you to get it."

Noakes said he knew he had struck the ball well, but was confident it was going over only when it was about 20m short of the posts.

He thought Otago deserved to win last Saturday, as it had the advantage in possession and territory, and the side needed to make the most of its opportunities.

Next up was Canterbury, on Saturday afternoon, fresh off a shock loss to Manawatu, and Noakes said it would be especially tough with class players such as Stephen Brett back.

The defence last week was first-rate and would have to remain so against the red and blacks, who would be desperate for a win.

Noakes will be on Carisbrook this weekend, but another member of the family is about to stride on to the biggest sporting stage of all.

His older sister Kim (25) is a member of the Black Sticks hockey team and is participating in the Beijing Olympics.

The side is scheduled to play Japan in its first game on Sunday.

She made the side last year, and has played more than 30 games for the team.

Noakes' parents are travelling to Beijing to watch the Games, but his focus will be on the oval ball.

His aim for the season is to play well enough to gain selection for the Highlanders next season.

"The team goal is to make the semifinals and I want to be part of that."

 

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