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Written by Jamie Troughton
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Monday, 19 April 2010 |
Junior All Black prop James McGougan made a surprise return to rugby on Saturday, playing 80 minutes for Paroa in Bay of Plenty rugby's second division.
It could be the start of an equally dramatic comeback to Super 14 rugby as well, with the tighthead eyeing a start against the Cheetahs this week.
McGougan was joined in the Baywide ranks by Chiefs teammate Luke Braid, with the flanker rampaging his way to two tries as Tauranga Sports beat Opotiki 40-6.
The news wasn't so good for another key Bay of Plenty figure, however, with first-five Mike Delany injuring his shoulder in Friday night's 49-15 loss to the Stormers in Hamilton and expected to be out for up to three weeks.
McGougan hasn't played for the Chiefs this season as he nurses a chronic back injury but looks to be making progress just as his team's semifinal prospects appear terminal.
The Whakatane-raised prop also honoured a promise by returning to play for the struggling Paroa, who narrowly lost their Baywide division one match 16-14 to Ngongotaha.
"He was a bit sore after the game but he went really well," Paroa vice-president John Harawira reported.
"He grew up with most of these guys and his family still lives here. I think it was nice for him just to get out and play with his mates and just to get out and play 80mins of rugby after a pretty frustrating season."
It was equally frustrating for Braid as he sat in the Waikato Stadium stands on Friday night and Opotiki bore the brunt of those annoyances, as he returned to club rugby for the first time this season.
Behind 6-0 and with Opotiki's tight forwards causing all sorts of problems, Braid single-handedly wrested the game back with two powerful tries from No 8.
"I just enjoyed running around," Braid said. "It was bit of fun - it was good to get back and play with a bit more of a relaxed attitude towards footy."
The 21-year-old, who was named man of the match, was adamant the Chiefs still had much to prove in the Super 14, despite languishing in tenth with a month left.
"We're all naturally a bit upset about the result on Friday night but we're just looking forward to regaining the faith in the fans. The boys are feeling pretty disappointed about letting down our home supporters in Hamilton who keep turning up each week. It's not going to take much to get going again."
Chiefs coach Ian Foster also remained upbeat, despite his side having won just one of their last six games, against a disappointing Highlanders side.
"We aren't dead and buried yet so we have to keep chugging along," Foster said. "'We have four games to go and we are a pretty proud unit. We also have to make sure we are taking steps in the development of the franchise not only over the next four weeks but also the next 12 months."
McGougan, meanwhile, isn't the only Super 14 player registered with a second division club - All Black Tanerau Latimer has retained his links with Rangiuru.
Harawira would love to see the big prop pull on a black Paroa jersey again this season but hopes a Super 14 comeback will prevent it for the time being.
"It was great for the guys to play with someone of James' calibre and he just brought a new dimension to things. He made a few barnstorming runs and helped our forwards dominate but it was more his attitude and the way he lifted the guys around him."
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