Cruze Ah-Nau steps up a gear with first Super Rugby start for Rebels against Sharks

FOR much of last season, Melbourne Rebels prop Cruze Ah-Nau was mired in Super Rugby’s twilight zone.

Cruze Ah-Nau makes a charge for the Rebels against the Brumbies.

FOR much of last season, Cruze Ah-Nau was mired in Super Rugby’s twilight zone.

At 22, he was repeatedly listed as Melbourne’s 23rd man, the tantalising — but ultimately frustrating — equivalent of being a weekly AFL emergency.

After an off-season of endless toil and improvement, Ah-Nau gets his coveted opportunity on Friday night with his first start in Super Rugby.

Having earned four caps off the bench, packing down against Springbok forward Jannie du Plessis is predictably viewed as something of a baptism of fire.

Not that the impressively grounded Ah-Nau views it that way.

“It’s going to be a great opportunity,” he said.

“It’s unfortunate that Toby (Smith) is out through injury, but being 23rd man so often last year, I got a lot of drive and fight to improve.

“For the last years I was always involved in the 23, but it was only the top 22 who got to play.

“This year it’s 23, but to get my first start is great. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Cruze Ah-Nau makes a charge for the Rebels against the Brumbies.

Father to Tyrell, 5, and Jai, 2, and partner to Sophie, Ah-Nau says family balance has helped improve his rugby.

He was the last player signed to the 2013 Rebels squad after playing the previous season with Rebel Rising and Norths in the Shute Shield.

The prop was a member of the Australian team at the 2010 junior world championship, playing alongside the likes of Scott Sio and Matt Toomua.

He spent the 2011 season with the Western Force Academy in his native Western Australia before making an unforgettable Rebels debut against the British & Irish Lions in front of a record rugby crowd at AAMI Park last year.

“Being part of the playing group instead of being the 23rd man has made a big difference,” he said.

“I’m excited about playing the Sharks. We’ve done a lot of preparation for the match.

“I know du Plessis is a Springbok and we’ve studied his strengths. I’ve just got to combat what he does in the scrum and around the field and do my best.”