-
Riding the storm: Liam Messam - Source: Photosport -
Related
Waikato captain Liam Messam has revealed that it was the advice of two senior All Blacks that motivated him to get up and fight again for his All Black dream, reports tvnz.co.nz's Chris Matthews.
In many ways it has been a bitter-sweet year for Liam Messam. The ups and downs and ebbs and flows have been about as unpredictable as his game.
It started well enough for the talented ball-running blindside flanker or number eight. He was an integral part of the Chiefs' charge all the way to the Super 14 final and even though they were demolished in the high veldt of Pretoria he was soon given a reprieve.
His reselection in the All Blacks for the June Tests against France, after playing one Test against Scotland on last year's end of year tour, was just reward for an outstanding Super 14 season.
But Messam realised how quickly his fortunes could change after the first Test of the year in Dunedin. Despite scoring a try in the Test defeat to France, he produced an error-ridden performance, where he dropped off two crucial tackles.
The All Blacks selectors promptly dropped him and the harsh reality of international rugby hit the stunned 25-year-old.
"There were some crucial errors that I made and it's a blessing I guess but you have to learn from your mistakes," Messam recalls.
"It was one of the hardest things getting dropped from the All Blacks side but it made me real motivated and I'm working real hard to get back in that squad.
"So it was a bit of a blessing and a wake-up call but it's the small things that count."
It's a diplomatic stand from Messam but it took a while for him to get over his fall from grace. The former New Zealand Maori captain is a proud man and his mana had been dented.
However he revealed that the support of two senior All Blacks, who texted and called him after his dropping, inspired him to fight again.
"For me it was just taking the learning from the All Blacks camp because there are some awesome coaches in the All Blacks," he says.
"There is a lot of knowledge there with Richie (McCaw) and Rodney (So'oialo) and I was just soaking it in.
"But when I got dropped Keven (Mealamu) and Mils (Muliaina) got in behind me and gave me some motivation and some inspiration I guess to keep working hard to get back in there."
There is no question that Messam is working hard but his performance against Otago on Saturday raised many of the same old issues.
After brilliantly setting up the first try to centre Jackson Willison, Messam was sinbinned - perhaps unfairly - for playing the ball in an off-side position.
He then had a kick charged down before setting up the last and crucial bonus point try with a swinging cut-out ball that led to Tim Mikkelson powering over in the corner.
It was another Jekyll and Hyde performance where Messam was brilliant one minute but then erratic the next: The Carisbrook curse had seemingly struck again.
But Messam is all too aware that attention to detail is what he needs to focus on and, encouragingly, All Blacks coach Graham Henry has told him as much.
"Yeah he has rung a couple of times which is good when coaches ring you and let you know how you're tracking.
"He said just keep working on the small things but that stuff's out of my control so I just have to keep performing."
Messam is determined to lead Waikato through to the Air NZ Cup semi-finals, starting with Northland on Saturday, but surely in the back of his mind there is hope of an All Blacks recall come Sunday morning.
"I didn't even know they were going to be named until you said that but I'm just trying to focus on my game.
"It's out of my control so I'll leave it up to the selectors and it'll be nice to hear my name but if not I just have to keep focusing on my Waikato stuff."
