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Chiefs beware: Moana Pasifika rookie turning heads and ankles
Prepare to hear the name Kyren Taumoefolau a whole lot more as the 20-year-old takes Super Rugby Pacific in his rapid stride.
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The former Tonga SVNS flyer has been climbing swiftly through the rugby ranks and his form in his few Moana Pasifika outings to date has earned him another start in round seven, this time at fullback against the Chiefs.
The Hamilton club will be alert to the threat lurking in the Moana backfield thanks to highlight plays like his try against the Western Force making the rounds online.
Collecting the ball on the halfway line via a crisp Christian Leali’ifano offload, the youngster galloped downfield, comfortably evading the last line of defence while not a single player behind him posed any threat of a chase down.
“I definitely get my speed from my dad,” Taumoefolau laughed, speaking to The Crowd Goes Wild. “People say I got it from my mum.
‘That was just a set play, luckily enough Christian gave me a nice ball and put me in space.”
Beautiful to watch 😍
Kyren Taumoefolau runs in a perfect set move for @MoanaPasifika_.#SuperRugbyPacific #FORvMOA pic.twitter.com/vHaJDE8UY8
— Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) March 15, 2024
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Lining up against a hungry Chiefs outfit reeling after a shock loss to the previously winless Crusaders, Taumoefolau will be put to the test, tasked with disarming plenty of attacking threats.
“Hopefully my family can come up from down south. Really looking forward to this one, especially getting a start against the Chiefs.
“I’m looking forward to playing against a good side with the likes of Damian McKenzie and Shaun Stevenson.”
He’s no stranger to international stars though, having donned both the Tonga Sevens jersey and got himself on the scoresheet at the Rugby World Cup last year in France.
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“Was pretty buzzy getting the phone call to go to the Rugby World Cup, especially at a young age but I was just truly grateful that they had faith and believed in me so I just took the opportunity with two hands which was awesome.
“It was everything and more, I was truly grateful to be there, I was pretty taken away while I was there.
“I was on the sevens circuit for a little bit, played for the Tonga sevens. After that, I went to the Moana Pasifika Under-20 and played in the U20 Super Rugby comp here in Taupo, then just got a phone call and they wanted to bring me in. It was kind of like a train and trial then I was lucky enough to get selected.”
Now in Tana Umaga’s environment, Taumoefolau is surrounded by Pasifika legends and not just learning from them, but going toe to toe with them too.
He says the team represents its people and islands proudly.
“Even here there’s no egos, everyone just comes together as one. Everyone plays for Samoa or Tonga but we’re all Moana so we all come together which is awesome.”
Comments on RugbyPass
One significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
53 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
53 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
53 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
53 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
1 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
53 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
53 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
53 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
53 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
53 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
53 Go to commentsNot sure how Karl Dickson can ever ref a Quins game, he played for the club for 8 years as understudy to Care and is still close friends with half the team
3 Go to commentsAre bookies taking bets on how many times Vunipola's eventual statement will use the term “elders"? My money is on at least 4 times.
4 Go to commentsSo Ireland will be tired, despite having the most rested test squad in the world. They only play tests, champions cup and urc play off games ffs! Case in point; Leinster sent a B squad to SA for their last two games while their first xv rested up and trained at their leisure for the sf vs Saints at the so called ‘neutral venue’ of Croke Park. So tired? Do me a favour… And as for “people’s champions”? Seriously??? Outside of Ireland they are respected for their ability to win 6N. And of course plenty of inconsequential test friendlies without any real pressure. WC ko games when the pressure is white hot? Not so much…
53 Go to commentsSurprising how standing down or benching a player can do wonders for their motivation. Several players this week in that category.
2 Go to comments