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'I didn't even know who he was': The bolter set for his All Blacks debut
He was the surprise package of Ian Foster’s first All Blacks squad and has since handled his promotion with such aplomb that a test debut awaits this weekend. And yet, the best from Taranaki and Chiefs lock Tupou Vaa’i is unlikely to come against the Wallabies, but in the coming years as his physical and mental strength further matures.
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The prestige attached to a maiden All Blacks call-up was there for all to see when Vaa’i shared the video of his family’s reaction to his selection in the national team – their pure joy evident in screams and tears that, in the age of social media, soon went viral.
Rather than be swept up in the emotion of it all, Vaa’i quickly knuckled down to work by helping Taranaki claim the Ranfurly Shield before settling into the All Blacks over the past two weeks.
The 20-year-old’s rapid rise – from labouring with his father in Auckland at the start of the year to preparing to play the Wallabies in Wellington on Sunday – is reflected in new teammate Codie Taylor’s admission, one shared by many avid New Zealand rugby followers.
“The harsh truth is I didn’t even know who he was at the start of the season but he’s come on in leaps and bounds with the Chiefs and now he gets the chance to pull on a black jersey at some stage which is pretty cool,” Taylor said.
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“You’ve seen him run around he’s not the smallest bloke – he’s got that Patrick Tuipulotu size about him and presence. He’s only 20 years old, that’s a bit scary. If that’s how big they’re getting at that age there’s no chance for us old boys.”
Comparisons to Tuipulotu could be somewhat of a premonition in that it took the Blues captain the best part of five years to mould into the truly consistent world-class lock who now uses the full capacity of his size to devastating effect.
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At 1.96 metres and 116kg, Vaa’i sure is an imposing specimen.
Quinten Strange’s ankle injury during the All Blacks camp in Hamilton last week near assures Vaa’i a position on the bench this week covering starting locks Sam Whitelock and Tuipulotu.
With Scott Barrett nearing a return from toe surgery, and Brodie Retallick due to home from Japan next year, Vaa’i is likely to slide down the pecking order but, for now, he’s already impressing those that matter most.
“He was one guy after being named that then went back to his province and went to another level,” All Blacks forwards coach John Plumtree enthused. “I was really excited about that. I watched him play at the New Zealand 20s and kept my eye on him and then the Chiefs gave him an opportunity and I connected with [Chiefs forwards coach] Neil Barnes and kept on watching him.
“You look at his physical profile he’s obviously a nice big boy and he loves learning as well. It doesn’t look like the environment intimidates him at all. He’s walking around with his chest out smiling so I think we’ve got a good one there.”
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At the start of this new era, Vaa’i is exactly the prospect the All Blacks are keen to unearth.
If ever there were a time for Patrick Tuipulotu to make a statement, it's now. #AllBlackshttps://t.co/QTeVyOYYjT
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 7, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
27 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
1 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 Crusades , you can keep going.
1 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!😭😭😭 !!!
27 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
27 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.
27 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
27 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to comments