1
Chiefs Manawa preview with Tanya Kalounivale: 'When I enter the field, I’m there to protect my family'
Tanya Kalounivale was a human wrecking ball in the first 20 minutes of the Super Rugby Aupiki final last year.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Chiefs Manawa prop scored two tries and frequently cast aside Matatu defenders like tenpins as the hosts built a 19-0 lead in as many minutes. Inxcelibley that advantage crumbled as the Southerners staged a heroic rally to win the title.
Don’t expect Kalounivale to change her approach when Super Rugby Aupiki starts on Saturday. The first Fijian-born Black Fern has a simple and ruthless mindset when she plays.
“When I enter the field, I’m there to protect my family,” Kalounivale told RugbyPass.
“I play for my teammates; those on the field and injured. I want to do the management proud.
“I saw the opportunity to score tries. I’m grateful my teammates put me into good positions.”
Chiefs Manawa appear to be in a strong position to win their second Aupiki title. There are seven Black Ferns forwards in the squad, including Rugby World Cup winners, Krystal Murray, Kennedy Simon, and Chelsea Bremner.
Black Ferns halfback Ariana Bayler is from Waikato and joins Manawa from the Blues. Two Matatu champions have also ventured North. Black Ferns winger Grace Steinmetz and fullback Renee Holmes join a stacked backline that also features the return of Black Ferns star Ruby Tui and midfield back Chelsea Semple. Internationals Seina Saito (Japan) and Bitila Tawake (Fiji) are the other notable newcomers.
In pre-season Chiefs Manawa beat the Blues 50-24 in Hamilton. Kalounivale was satisfied with the outcome.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Our game plan happened the way we meant it to. We were able to build phases and try new combinations
“Our scrum is looking strong. I have Kate Hendwood by my side and she can play both sides. We have good competition in the squad but are keen to help each other.”
Hurricanes Poua will need to help each other if they are to have any shot of toppling Manawa in the season opener. Last year the hosts were canned 53-21 and 43-21 by Manawa. The Poua have lost Black Ferns prop Krystal Murray, No. 8 Kaipo Olsen-Baker, Wallaroos first-five Carys Dallinger, and top try-scorer Autumn-Rain Stephens-Daily from last season, while star winger Ayesha Leti-I’iga remains sidelined with a long-term injury. They are the youngest side in the competition but Kalounivale is weary.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We’re not underestimating Poua. They’ve got some big girls. We are going to have to win the contact area to get our game going.”
Kalounivale hinted that Merania Paraone is a Manawa youngster to watch. She was a winger but is likely to play hooker. Kalounivale wouldn’t hesitate at a chance to play in the backs but says she’ll likely, “stay in my lane.”
Kalounivale burst her way into the Black Ferns in 2022. She was part of the Pacific Four series-winning team. Following a dynamic Farah Palmer Cup (FPC) for Waikato, she was selected for the Rugby World Cup winning team.
She appeared in the comprehensive group victories over Wales (56-12) and Scotland (57-0) recovering from an injury that ruled her out of selection for the opening fixture against Australia.
It was her three older brothers who gave her an appreciation for rugby growing up as a Kanakana villager on the Island of Vanua Levu.
She first played organised rugby in 2017. That year the Kalounivale family migrated to New Zealand in pursuit of a “better life” and soon Tanya was playing for Hamilton Old Boys.
“My Mum went to see Greg Smith to try and get my brothers into the club. Greg had played hooker for Fiji (44 tests). Mum mentioned she had a daughter who loves to play and soon I had to play,” Kalounivale recalled.
“I found it way harder than my brothers’ rugby. There was way more running, but all Fijians are naturally talented,” she laughed.
Blessed with raw power and the aforementioned Fijian flair, Kalounivale helped Hamilton Old Boys win the WRU senior championship and featured six times for FPC semi-finalists Waikato in 2017.
By 2020 she’d established herself as one of the pre-eminent front rowers in the county alongside provincial teammates and fellow Black Ferns Toka Natua and Grace Houpapa-Barrett. She scored a try in the FPC semi-final against Manawat?, but Waikato would lose on a last-play try to Canterbury in the final.
The following season Waikato would gain revenge on Canterbury by winning the FPC final 22-20 in Christchurch. Kalounivale played in wins against Bay of Plenty (27-10), Otago (29-22), and Wellington (34-27) but missed the decider because she was picked for the Black Ferns Northern Tour. Kalounivale saw no game time.
Chiefs Manawa v Hurricanes Poua kickoff at 2:05 pm on Saturday 2nd March (NZDT)
Comments on RugbyPass
Why cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
31 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
31 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
31 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
31 Go to comments