The All Black journey of Angus Ta'avao
With incumbent starting prop Joe Moody ruled out for six weeks following a broken thumb, the All Blacks have called upon the services of 28-year-old tighthead Angus Ta’avao.
Ta’avao joins Chiefs teammate Karl Tu’inukuafe in the All Black squad after the pair shone during the 2018 Super Rugby season.
What makes the selections of both Ta’avao and Tu’inikuafe so amazing is the fact that neither player had a Super Rugby contract at the start of the season.
After five weeks of competition, the Chiefs had just one of their originally contracted props available; Aidan Ross. In week nine, Ross’ season was cut short after he broke his leg and became the sixth Chiefs prop lost since the start of the campaign.
Ta’avao told Radio Sport,”I was only supposed to be with the Chiefs until January. I never thought too much about the next level – I was just enjoying playing.”
The Chiefs’ injury crisis meant Ta’avao stuck around – he has since signed a two-year deal with the club – as he helped anchor one of Super Rugby’s most effective scrums. The front-rower excelled, playing 17 games and logging more minutes than any Chiefs forward – an impressive feat for a prop – and the second-most of any prop in the competition.
After establishing himself as a mainstay in the No. 3 jersey, Ta’avao helped the Chiefs win 112 scrums – third most in Super Rugby – at a success rate of 100%.
The scrum has been an area of vast improvement for Ta’avao.
“The big question of me has always been my scrummaging and I feel I have stepped up this year,” he said. “The Chiefs had a solid scrum and worked well as a pack.”
“I also picked up a couple of routines in Sydney to help strengthen my lower back – I’ve had issues going on in my earlier seasons.”
All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen had plenty of praise for the hard-working forward.
“Angus had a big season for the Chiefs during the Super Rugby season, was part of a very good Chiefs pack and has made big strides on the technical aspects of his position,” Hansen said in a statement Thursday. “We look forward to him joining the squad.”
Ta’avao’s journey to the national side, while it may now seem a whirlwind, is the culmination of years of hard work full of ups and downs.
Born in Auckland, Ta’avao began his career with his home province, who he represented from 2010 to 2013. His work with Auckland saw him earn his first Super Rugby contract, spending three years with the Blues from 2012.
A journey across the ditch then saw Ta’avao join the Sydney-based Waratahs, where he plied his trade from 2015 to 2017 and trained with the Wallabies – who he is eligible for through his mother.
Ta’avao’s return to New Zealand – and third attempt at Super Rugby – proved to be his most successful. Re-joining and captaining Taranaki for the 2017 and 2018 Mitre 10 Cup seasons exemplifies the high regard he is held in.
He will join the All Blacks in Nelson this weekend as they prepare to host Argentina on the 8th of September.
In other news:
Comments on RugbyPass
You doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
43 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
5 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
5 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
5 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
5 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
5 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to comments