Like Keven Mealamu with 'the power of a winger': The hooker who could shake up the familiar All Blacks one-two punch
A quick glance at the top of the individual scoring charts for Super Rugby Aotearoa in 2021 tells you all you need to know about the state of New Zealand’s current hooking department.
Amongst all the X-factor and razzle-dazzle of the McKenzie’s, Jordan’s and Reece’s are the considerably more sizeable frames of the Blues’ Kurt Eklund and the Hurricanes’ Asafo Aumua. And leading them all, with a most likely unassailable seven scores this season, is Crusader Codie Taylor.
Yet it is probably just a little unfair to not associate the words used to describe that chart-topping group of backs with their tight-five counterparts. Certainly, in former All Blacks hooker James Parsons’ view, those are exactly the kind of words we should be using.
Speaking on the Aotearoa Rugby Pod this week, Parsons was quick to highlight 24-year-old Aumua’s sheer dynamism, pace and ability and drew a comparison to former Blues teammate and two-time World Cup winner Keven Mealamu.
“He’s got the same stature as Kevvy,” commented Parsons. “Honestly he reminds me so much of Kevvy but he’s just got the power of a winger… He does a really good job off the bench, he provides a hell of an impact in his growth and his core roles as well.”
Certainly, ‘impact’ is a word that describes Aumua well.
Since making his provincial debut for the Wellington Lions back in 2016 and his Super Rugby debut for the Canes in 2018, Aumua has gone from strength to strength, scoring crucial and compilation-worthy tries for both the Hurricanes and the Baby Blacks en route to their 2017 U20 World Championship triumph.
What is more, this season, he and Dane Coles have packed a mighty one-two punch for a struggling but competitive Hurricanes side since the latter’s return from injury. In particular, the impressive return of Coles has meant that even with Codie Taylor on the brink of a fifth Super Rugby title with the Crusaders, Parsons believes the 74-cap All Black Coles has a strong case for a starting place in the national team.
“I think Codie’s playing out of his skin but so is Coles,” said Parsons. “But we have this discussion every year between the two. They are hard to pick between and it just depends on what style the All Blacks want to go with… they probably will rotate between the two. And they’ll have to because they have to manage workloads so it’s a nice problem to have.”
The impact Coles has had and continues to have on forging a new design of hooker on the international stage has been immense and Parsons believes the well won’t run dry of similar talent any time soon.
“I think Coles was the player that changed the hooking role and then a guy like Codie has followed that blueprint,” said Parsons. “Then we’ve got guys like Asafo who’s almost taken it another level in terms of his dynamic power and skillset. There’s so many players that want to be the next so-and-so and they put a lot of time and effort and determination into being that, that they eventually get there.”
Pablo Matera is going to have his work cut out for him at @CrusadersRugby next year – but he's going to be a huge addition to the champion side. #SuperRugbyAotearoahttps://t.co/Fs6epQG6Zq
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) May 4, 2021
This continual conveyor belt of quality seems to suggest that if competition is fierce at the back of the park for All Blacks fullback, it’s a just as tightly fought battle for a starting place up front.
Parsons also identified the improvements of Samisoni Taukei’aho down at the Chiefs and Kurt Eklund’s prolific recent form and scoring record as being cause for notice.
Speaking of Taukei’aho, Parsons commented: “I think his game and growth is exceptional. People have a little go at his throwing, but I think the Chiefs lineout is operating pretty well for how young the group is and how much they’re all having to grow together.
“I think Kurt Eklund, the other night too, he’s come back from his little suspension but he’s certainly putting his hand up as well.”
In Parsons’ view, even the waiting game players like Aumua and Eklund might have to endure isn’t necessarily a bad thing.
“I think biding your time and learning behind and making sure that when you get to that level you’re ready gives you the best opportunity to perform and take your opportunity, rather than being thrown out there early and not nailing it and then being cast aside. I honestly don’t think it’s a bad thing and he [Aumua] will be better for it.”
Listen to the latest episode of the Aotearoa Rugby Pod below:
Comments on RugbyPass
It’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
2 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
24 Go to commentsIf rugby wants to remain interesting in the AI era then it will need to work on changing the rules. AI will reduce the tactical advantage of smart game plans, will neutralize primary attacking weapons, and will move rugby from a being a game of inches to a game of millimetres. It will be about sheer athleticism and technique,about avoiding mistakes, and about referees. Many fans will find that boring. The answer is to add creative degrees of freedom to the game. The 50-22 is an example. But we can have fun inventing others, like the right to add more players for X minutes per game, or the equivalent of the 2-point conversion in American football, the ability to call a 12-player scrum, etc. Not saying these are great ideas, but making the point that the more of these alternatives you allow, the less AI will be able to lock down high-probability strategies. This is not because AI does not have the compute power, but because it has more choices and has less data, or less-specific data. That will take time and debate, but big, positive and immediate impact could be in the area of ref/TMO assistance. The technology is easily good enough today to detect forward passes, not-straight lineouts, offside at breakdown/scrum/lineout, obstruction, early/late tackles, and a lot of other things. WR should be ultra aggressive in doing this, as it will really help in an area in which the game is really struggling. In the long run there needs to be substantial creativity applied to the rules. Without that AI (along with all of the pro innovations) will turn rugby into a bash fest.
24 Go to commentsSouth Africa rarely play Ireland and France on these tours. Mostly, England, Scotland and Wales. I wonder why
1 Go to commentsIt was a let’s-see-what-you're-made-of type of a game. The Bulls do look good when the opposition allows them to, but Munster shut them down, and they could not find a way through. Jake should be very worried about their chances in the competition.
2 Go to commentsHats off to Fabian for a very impressive journey to date. Is it as ‘uniquely unlikely’ as Rugby Pass suggests, given Anton Segner’s journey at the Blues?
1 Go to commentsSad that this was not confirmed. When administrators talk about expanding the game they evidently don’t include pathways to the top tier of rugby for teams outside of the old boys club. Rugby deserves better, and certainly Georgia does.
2 Go to commentsLions might take him on if they move on Van Rooyen but I doubt he will want to go back, might consider it a step backwards for himself. Sharks would take him on but if Plumtree goes on to win the challenge cup they will keep him on. Also sharks showing some promising signs recently. Stormers and Bulls are stable and Springboks are already filled up. Quality coach though, interesting to see where he ends up
1 Go to commentsAnd the person responsible for creating a culture of accountability is?
3 Go to commentsMore useless words from Ben Smith -Please get another team to write about. SA really dont need your input, it suck anyway.
264 Go to commentsThis disgraceful episode must result in management and coach team sackings. A new manager with worse results than previous and the coaching staff need to coached. Awful massacre led by donkeys.
1 Go to commentsInteresting article with one glaring mistake. This sentence: “And between the top four nations right now, Ireland, France, South Africa, and New Zealand…” should read: And between the top four nations right now, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and France…”. Get it right wistful thinkers, its not that hard.
24 Go to commentsHow did Penny get the gig anyway?
3 Go to commentsNice write up Nick and I would have agreed a week ago. However as you would know Cale & co got absolutely monstered by the Blues back row of Sotutu, Ioane and Papaliti and not all of these 3 are guaranteed a start in the Black jumper. He may need to put some kgs before stepping up, Spring tour? After the week end Joe will be a bit more restless. Will need to pick a mobile tough pack for Wales and hope England does the right thing and bashes the ABs. I like your last paragraph but I would bring Swinton, Hannigan into the 6 role and Bobby V to 8
24 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can still get in to the Play Off’s. The imminent return of outstanding captain Scott Barrett and his All Black team mate Codie Taylor will be a big boost.There are others like Tamaiti Williams too. Two home games coming up. Fellow Crusader fans get there and support these guys. I will be.
1 Go to commentsCant get more Wellington than Proctor.
2 Go to commentsWhy not let the media decide. Like how they choose the head coach. Like most of us we entrust the rugby system to choose. A rugby team includes the coaches. It's collective.
14 Go to commentsHi NIck, I have been very impressed with him and he seems a smart player who can see opportunities which Bobby V _(who must be an international 6_) doesn’t see or have the speed to take advantage of. If he continues to improve and puts on 5kgs then he could be a great 8. He is a bit taller than Keiran Reid at 1.93m and 111 kgs, so his skill set fits his body size and who knows where it will lead. I hope the spate of Achilles tendon issues have been dealt with by the S&C people. It’s been a very long time since Mark Loane and Kefu stood out at 8. The question is will we be able to hold onto him, if he does make it he will be pretty hot property. I disagree with the idea of letting them go to the Northern Hemisphere and then bring them back.
24 Go to commentsBilly Fulton 🤣🤣🤣🤣 garrrmon not even close
14 Go to commentsDoes the AI take into account refs? hahaha Seriously why not have two on field refs to avoid bias?
24 Go to comments