Anesi's legs in run for Chiefs spot

PETER DRURY/Waikato Times

RE-SIGNED: The Waratahs have decided to re-sign Waikato's one-test All Black Sosene Anesi despite his less than blockbusting debut campaign for them in 2010.

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Sosene Anesi has not been offered a contract by the Waratahs for a second Super rugby season and he wants to return to the Chiefs.

Anesi, who is playing his eighth season of national championship rugby for Waikato in the ITM Cup, is now just 19 matches away from becoming the province's 22nd centurion. He also has 41 caps for the Chiefs in Super 14 rugby and after one season across the Tasman with the Waratahs is hoping he can renew his links with the Hamilton-based franchise for next year.

"I haven't signed [with the Waratahs] for next season obviously, but right now I just want to concentrate more on playing for Waikato, putting in a good performance and seeing what my options are after that," Anesi said yesterday. But he said his preference at this stage was definitely to play for the Chiefs in the inaugural Super 15.

"Probably that's my first option now so I want to have a good NPC first and then talk to Fozzie [Chiefs coach Ian Foster] and see what's the go there for me."

Anesi was last year contracted by the Waratahs for one season to play fullback for them, although he ended up being mostly a bench player after some early starts when New South Wales coach Chris Hickey decided to move Berrick Barnes in one position to first five-eighth and to switch Kurtley Beale to fullback.

Now it seems they are placing more priority on trying to contract another lock for next season and are keeping their options open to go offshore for that, so they have held back from offering Anesi a new deal.

The one-test All Black knows he has to convince Foster he still has the goods by performing for Waikato, having gone to the Waratahs in the first place in search of more game time after sitting in a queue behind star outside backs Mils Muliaina, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Lelia Masaga.

"The Chiefs have got lots of good players coming through and there's experience there too, but I've got to work really hard and make sure I'm in good form."

While the Waikato team finally got into try-scoring mode last weekend against Counties-Manukau, which Anesi shared in, he believes there is better still to come from both himself and the team.

Despite not having done a lot of speed work lately, he is pleased with his short-distance speed and acceleration, but admits his 80-metre sprint for a solo try after ripping the ball off an opposing player in a maul certainly tested him.

"My legs were giving up a bit in that last 20 metres but I just got there at the end."

Anesi rated his fitness as being good after playing all five ITM Cup games so far this year for Waikato.

"I haven't been doing much speed work but I think my speed's pretty good.

"Over 10 metres I'm still the fastest in Waikato, so the first few metres are pretty good but it's after that, that I need to work on.

"The legs are ageing but there are no injuries or anything."

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