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'Daunting walking in': A Maori great has given Ireland a pep talk
Ex-Munster midfielder Rua Tipoki has visited the Ireland squad at their Auckland hotel ahead of their opening tour match versus Maori All Blacks in Hamilton next Wednesday. The 46-year-old from Gisborne, who played Super Rugby for the Blues and the Crusaders, was part of the Maori team that defeated the 2005 British and Irish Lions at the same stadium in the Waikato where the Irish will play in a few days’ time.
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It was 2007 when Tipoki was recruited by Munster and in his two years living in Cork, he helped them to Heineken Cup glory versus Toulouse in his first season and a Celtic League title the next season.
He returned to New Zealand after his stint in Ireland ended and, 13 years later, he has now reconnected with some familiar Irish faces when visiting Rydges Hotel for a pep talk on what it means for players to represent the Maori, a team that Andy Farrell’s squad will play twice on tour as a second match is scheduled for Wellington on July 12.
“It was pretty daunting walking into the room, I didn’t know what to expect but it was really cool to catch up with Paul (O’Connell), Keith (Earls), Pete (O’Mahony) and some of the other boys. It was really a privilege and an honour to be in the room here,” Tipoki said in an irishrugby.ie video interview about his visit to the Ireland squad whose primary objective is the three-Test series against the All Blacks.
It was Tipoki who helped lead the Munster ‘haka’ along with the likes of Doug Howlett when the All Blacks played Munster at Thomond Park in 2008, and the Maori great addressed the Ireland squad while wearing an Ireland jersey given to him when he left the province the following year.
“A close friend of mine, Jerry Flannery, gave this to me in my farewell in Cork,” he explained. “I just thought I would wear it tonight to remember the strong friendships I had over there but also the strong respect that I have for the experiences that I had in Ireland and also the love and support we were shown by the Irish people while we were there.
“If there is one team in the world that Kiwis love to support outside of the All Blacks it’s the Irish but they are making a habit of beating the All Blacks now so I don’t know if they are going to too many Kiwis cheer for them in the Test matches.”
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Ireland last played the Maori All Blacks in 2010, losing 31-28 in Rotorua, but Tipoki recalled giving the Maori a pep talk in 2016 before they played Munster in Limerick, a match the Irish side won 27-14. What does it mean for a player to represent the Maori?
“Probably similar to what it means for one of the Irish players to put on their jersey. I was asked the last time the Maoris toured Ireland and played against Munster, the Maori asked me to come in and speak to them and explain what it meant to play for Munster and I just told them that they have the same mentality.
“When the Maori play, it’s not just representing himself he’s representing his family and his tribal heritage connection. Each of those players is bringing all of that with them and it’s a big responsibility but like I said, Irish players are playing for their country. It’s similar.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
4 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
7 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
13 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
13 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
4 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to comments