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The hand-off that announced his arrival
Details
Munster vs Bourgoin
Thomond Park
Saturday October 28th 2006
Heineken Cup
The Team
Munster: S Payne, J Kelly, B Murphy, T Halstead, I Dowling; R O’Gara, P Stringer, M Horan, F Sheahan, J Hayes, D O’Callaghan, P O’Connell [capt], A Quinlan, D Wallace, D Leamy. Replacements: A Kyriacou, F Pucciariello, M O'Driscoll, J O'Sullivan, T O'Leary, J Manning, L Mafi.
Setting the scene
Its round two of the Heineken Cup. Munster are defending champions and the previous week had gone to Welford Road and beaten the Leicester Tigers 21-19 with a last minute kick from Ronan O'Gara from inside his own half. Munster are finally kings of Europe and the announcement of Doug Howlett's impending arrival has the fans expectations sky high. One of the other new signings for the season, Lifeimi Mafi, has gone relatively under the radar. He has played sevens for New Zealand but had no super rugby experience. He was only on the field at Welford Road for a few minutes and barely touched the ball so he was eager to impress the Munster fans in the old concrete shell that was Thomond Park.
The Game
The match itself was a bit of a non event. Bourgoin were a typical French team of the time who didn't travel well. Their most well known player in these parts would have been ex Munster scrum half Mike Prendergast. Munster were well on top and led 20-6 at half time. By the 70th minute when Mafi and Andy Kyriacou were introduced the score was 34-13 and the game was all but over.
The Moment
Its the 70th minute of the match and new signings Lifeimi Mafi and Andy Kyriacou are brought on as replacements for Trevor Halstead and Frankie Sheahan. It only takes them a few minutes to make their mark and Mafi to announce himself to Munster faithful.
Shaun Payne, an ultimate legend and a god who walks amongst us, passes the ball to Mafi in midfield on the Munster 10 metre line. Bourgoin are coming up in a defensive line and Barry Murphy, with his America History X haircut, runs a support line on Mafi's shoulder. This support line from Murphy seems to distract the defenders as Mafi spots a gap in the Bourgoin line, tucks the ball into his right arm and pins his ears back. He runs a great line between two defenders and the flailing arms do little to slow him down.
He accelerates through the gap and shows a clean pair of heels. The Bourgoin full back Laloo tracks him on an angle and just as he appears ready to make the tackle Mafi extends his left arm and fends him perfectly. Its a devastating fend that send Laloo to the ground in a heap.
Mafi continues his run and is faced with the Bourgoin out half Benjamoin Boyet directly in front of him. He sizes up the situation takes a few steps to his right, drawing the out half before releasing a simple pop pass to David "oh my god isn't he just gorgeous" Wallace. (The "oh my god isn't he just gorgeous" is a working trade mark of Mrs OTHP for all references to David Wallace). Wallace continues on the run before the ball eventually goes to Andy Kyriacou to score the try.
Mafi may not have been the most high profile signing of that season but that moment announced his arrival to the Thomond Park fans.
Highlights of Mafi's career (first 30 seconds include the build up to the try).
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