Sasagi fit to meet former team-mates

Prop Hisa Sasagi (right) and fellow prop Craig Millar at training for Otago earlier this week.  Photo by Peter Mcintosh.
Prop Hisa Sasagi (right) and fellow prop Craig Millar at training for Otago earlier this week. Photo by Peter Mcintosh.
Hisa Sasagi is making up for lost time.

Not only this year but also in his career.

The Otago tighthead prop, who will line up against Wellington tonight, is loving life as a professional player, albeit with frustrations over injury.

Sasagi, who has played 19 games for Otago, was part of the title-winning Hurricanes side that won the Super rugby competition.

But unfortunately, due to injury, he never got to play in one competition game.

''I was all lined up to play in the quarterfinal, semifinal and final but injury got in the way,'' he said.

''I had a lower-grade tear in my calf. So they had to call up Mike Kainga and he got on.

''It was gutting. There is no doubt about that. But that is rugby; that is the way it goes.

''I was coming back from an ankle injury and doing the fitness test.

''I got right through it and then, in the last block, I felt something go in my calf.''

Injuries followed Sasagi the whole season. After a robust pre-season, he did both hamstrings, suffered a cut to his
eye that required stitches and then picked up a knock to his ankle.

Sasagi (29) said despite the injuries, it was a great season with the Hurricanes, which climaxed with the franchise winning its first title.

''They were an awesome bunch of guys. Just really grounded.

''The boys just tried to keep everything the same; it was just another game.

''No matter what was happening every Saturday, it was just the same routine.''

The celebrations were great, he said, after winning the title, although ''nothing like the Chiefs''.

For now, he is back to full fitness and ready to meet some of his former Hurricanes teammates at Forsyth Barr Stadium tonight.

''Yeah, it will be interesting. They're good mates off the field but when you get on the field, it is about giving your all and holding nothing back.''

Sasagi was born in Samoa but came to Dunedin as a child when his father attended the University of Otago.

Sasagi played as a lock-loose forward for Otago Boys' High School First XV and then left school going into the front row.

''I took 2010 off when my son [Jonty] was born.

''That made me realise I've got to do something with my rugby - just go hard and give it my best shot.''

The following year he impressed and made Otago B, and then he made his debut for Otago in 2012.

He has steadily improved and puts that down to just getting on the field.

''It is just confidence, really. Just getting more game time and a lot to do with the guys you are playing with,'' he said.

''Guys like Tom Franklin, Liam Coltman. They've given me a real hand over the years.''

He now weighs 119kg, down from 132kg of a few years ago, and said being lighter made it easier to get around the field.

Sasagi will be part of an Otago forward pack that will have to muscle up against a Wellington forward pack that is expected to be physical.

Otago has been boosted by the return of lock Tom Franklin but will miss hooker Liam Coltman, who is away with the All Blacks.

Wellington started the season well with a 36-26 win over Hawke's Bay and these two sides loom as contenders for the championship.

Add a Comment