1
Monty Ioane: 'The good thing is teams are starting to respect us'
The tunnel had all but emptied out at Parc Olympique Lyonnais when Monty Ioane turned the corner and started making his way towards the Italy Rugby World Cup team bus near 1am on Saturday morning.
ADVERTISEMENT
The 14-try All Blacks had been and gone, the likes of Aaron Smith and Sam Whitelock negotiating huddles that were far more rumbustious than what they had encountered from the Italians over the course of a very one-sided Pool A match.
Despite the wounding 17-96 scoreline, Ioane had a pep in his step. Rather than the match finishing with the All Blacks putting up the ton and scoring their 15th try, the Italy winger was instead diving over to wrap up the scoring in a corner flag-demolishing style.
He had to work so very hard for it against the New Zealand defence, even with the clock in the red.
He managed to fire a pass out of the contact despite getting tackled by Damian McKenzie and after quickly getting up off the ground to take the return from Paolo Odogwu, he spun out of the grasp of Beauden Barrett and then leaped at the line before Cam Roigard could nudge him into touch. Bellissimo.
“Obviously, I’m quite stoked that I was able to score against the All Blacks,” enthused Ioane in an exclusive chat with RugbyPass. “You could see at the end I have got a bit of a smile.
“It is nothing to be proud of because when you look at the scoring sheet it was 96-something, but I guess for me it was stamping my mark and taking my chances. That is the only reason why I had to celebrate it – and plus we finished on a try.”
ADVERTISEMENT
It was January 2021 when RugbyPass previously interviewed Ioane, chatting over Zoom with him from Rome during the covid-restricted era of behind-closed-doors Test rugby.
At the time he was fresh from making his international debut the previous month and lapping up every new moment. Last winter. though, he decided to take a huge risk after his 17th cap, exiting URC franchise Benetton and missing the 2023 Guinness Six Nations to hibernate in Super Rugby Pacific in Melbourne with the Rebels.
He cited mental health issues as the reason, an issue that led him to stay in Australia close to his wife and children, but an agreement to sign with Lyon for the 2023/24 Top 14 season was soon followed by an Italy recall and his clock-in-the-red score on Friday night was his seventh try in seven appearances since his return.
“Definitely proud; definitely proud,” he repeated with effect, his Italy tracksuit zipped up tight and a bottle of water tucked under his arm ahead of the short spin east to base camp in Bourgoin.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Kieran (Crowley) trusted me. I didn’t have the greatest rugby season but for me that was more like a break from rugby for me. I was able to go home, reset the mind mentally, come back and then just switch on. I’m so stoked to be back.
“I didn’t know I was going to be here (at the World Cup), to be honest. Kieran just gave me a call. We did keep in contact but I wasn’t sure that I was going to be here. He gave me the opportunity and I guess every game that I get I’m just taking my chances.”
It’s a team game. But your Performance. Fucking proud of you. I see you ?? @MontyIoane pic.twitter.com/mmDkEZhod8
— Digby Ioane (@digbyioane) September 29, 2023
Ioane will have at least one more opportunity at these finals. Next Friday’s pool finale back in Lyon will see the Italians tackle France knowing that a surprise win would eliminate the hosts from the tournament. A shot at redemption after their hammering by the All Blacks? Yes, please, boomed the Azzurri winger.
“Of course, we are not going to put the head down and just give up from that because obviously, we have made progress over the years. It [the All Blacks was a good wake-up call for us. Our heads were a little in the clouds, winning the last two games against Namibia and Uruguay, and that kind of just set the pace for us to show that the good thing is teams are starting to respect us.
“For example, the All Blacks, they respected us to put their No1 team out there and that’s the pace and that’s the standard they set. For us to go out there and play next week against France, it’s just going to be another beast so that was perfect for us; sorry not perfect but in terms of keeping our feet grounded it’s a good opportunity for us to take into account all the mistakes that we need to make up for and take them into next week.”
What was it like, though, being out there for 80 minutes with the All Blacks scoring tries for fun? “If we’re not really in synch it does make it a lot harder, they are beating us with pace around the corner and then trying to go wide on us which is real tough for us.
“It’s just I am not going to say it is new to us. Every year we play against the top teams like France. France beat the All Blacks and the Irish beat the All Blacks, we’re constantly up against these teams that are playing that kind of style.
“It’s just for us we needed that good wake-up call because pre the World Cup, we had a good couple of wins but those were against tier two teams and that just shows, like I said before, the standard that we need to set.”
"They beat us up at the breakdown…"
– Kieran Crowley on seeing his Italy team beaten up by the All Blacks in Lyon at the Rugby World Cup. #NZLvITA #RWC2023 pic.twitter.com/vApnQiEjEi
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 30, 2023
Comments on RugbyPass
I totally agree. I also believe that minor injuries unless dangerous must be treared OFF the field of play and the game continue with a temp replacement if necessary.
2 Go to commentsSend the bill to McLennan.
3 Go to comments2 out of 3 were perfect. TMOs love jumping in on anything outside the law. The fact they saw nothing wrong speaks volumes. You want to see what a late blindside hit looks like, watch Kepu take out Carter in the 2015 World Cup final. Completely different to the Tah’s tackle.
11 Go to commentsverkeerde kant van die gereg lol
5 Go to commentsJust like John Plumtree at the Sharks he has had a poor start to this season’s coaching gig, but now it looks like he is starting to pull them back also having won 1 game in the first Eleven games they played. It obviously helps that 11 of his fifteen are Springbok players. But now they are starting to improve. No ways they can make it to the playoffs this year but they probably used this season as a way to figure out their game plan. One query I have and I think quite a few people have is: Are they playing better simply because of their international players are back or is it the team strategy led by Rob Penney that is starting to tick? Well I guess we wait and see. Also if it doesn't work out this season, it might be that Rob Penney is using this season as a way to organize himself for next season. Getting all his combinations sorted, his team strategies sorted and figuring out who is best is which position. Now I don't follow Super Rugby any more having now a full focus in the URC but I was surprised about the current Crusaders stats.
10 Go to commentsIf I’m a little bloke, who’s just had possession of the ball, I should expect to get cleaned up by Samipeni Finau if he’s opposite me and I do nothing to avoid him. FTFY You’ll need to rewrite the rest of your article now Hamish Bidwell. I’m not sorry for having missed reading this one. I find it hilarious it’s only the static aussie 10s, just waiting there, that are getting smashed. Move on your feet guys, haven’t you watched DMac and Mounga play for the last decade ffs. Chin up, at least your smiles should return when BB returns to SR next year and there’s more 10s to the fodder.
11 Go to commentsFinau is not leaving a lot of room for error that’s true, but he committed to 3 out of four tackles when the player had the ball so that’s all legal. (And incredibly entertaining)
11 Go to commentsHow does the size of the ‘bloke being hit’ factor into this? If you’re on the opposing team you are fair game. Is Finau the first person in history to target the first five? It seems like this is a great strategy to interrupt your opponents attack. As far as I’m aware, of the four excellent hits on Aussie first fives this year only one of them was ruled late. So if crying about legal tackles isn’t whingeing, then what is it?
11 Go to commentsThings I want to pay attention to this series. 1) Nothing against the other teams in 6 nations, but apart from Irelands loss to england, I dont feel they got tested, So I think this might be tight. 2) Rassie wants to build depth, and would rather do it before a world cup, but I am sure deep inside, he will be reminded that we have not beaten Ireland in years. 3) Will our new coaches plans be sound abd organised in time for the Ireland series? Remember our warm ups might only see our second or third string players available (When are we going to have one universal calander year?) 4) I see Ireland have moved on from Sexton, but what will Farrels plans be for SA? I am sure he will go for a full strength squad. 5) I think the test for the springboks will be the Durban game, it will be in winter, so not too hot for the Irish,no altitude, and it rains allot, might remind them of home. Loftus, if the springboks play the right game, I feel altitude like with most games before, can cause some challanges. 6) Off topic, but who is both Anxious and excited about what the Abs are coming with? A whole new coaching team and different style of play.
119 Go to commentsMost underrated player in world rugby.
2 Go to commentsHow many fans will travel to Qatar to watch these games ? because if they dont, it will be played in front of a few disinterested unknowledgeable Qataris and then just becomes media ‘content’. Thats what Test rugby will be reduced to.
1 Go to commentsSo as long as the playmaker still has the ball IN his hands, its OK. Otherwise the timing is wrong and he’s a liability. No grey line there. Thats the rule he is advocating ? Got it.
11 Go to commentsWrite them off at your peril
10 Go to commentsJust fantastic that the professional game is finally being taken to the Pacific islands. Not before time. It justifies the mere existence of Moana as a club, hopefully they can start to get some positive results too. Check out the sheer joy of the crowds in Fiji and the buzz that having a home team creates. Tonga always had (has ?) issues with their ground not complying with International rugby standards, which NZ always used as an excuse for many years not bringing the All Blacks over. Hopefully this match is the first of many. Would be great to see some tourism grow on the back of it. I once went to the Cook Islands Sevens in Rarotonga - tiny island nation but man did they turn it on. Tonga and Samoa will too given half a chance.
1 Go to commentsQuite right. Punish the time wasters. Its BS these time delays for non-injuries. The Boks have been using it for years now to slow down opposition and now its a scourge on the game. Put players like DeGroot on the sideline and restart play immediately. Watch how 5-6 min to fix your boots quickly becomes 1-2 minutes. Better still how about some personal professional management and you check the conditions/turf beforehand and get yourself better prepared. It might even help your team.
2 Go to commentsWhat drivel. Rugby as a contact sport should not be further diminished by crying over legal hard tackles. Take on the line? Be ready to take the hit. This is PC nonsense.
11 Go to commentsGregor Paul is going to be proved totally wrong. The Crusaders will get in the top 8 and are capable of winning this comp. The return of magnificent captain and player Scott Barrett on Friday was huge. There are a number of players returning and Ethan Blackadder showed huge progression in only his third game back. Christian Lio-Willie has added a new dimension , these two’s combination with Cullen Grace was fantastic. This builds depth when you have outstanding players like Tom Christie and Dom Gardiner also available. The tight five improved ten fold and this is with Tamaiti Williams and Codie Taylor being back.Others are set to return. Johnny McNicoll on his return home has been a revelation. Paul can dismiss Fridays win by the Crusaders as much as he likes and he will prove very popular in this country in doing so. But he will be proved wrong , Rob Penney and his coaching team will have the last laugh.
10 Go to commentsI haven’t seen or heard to many whinging about Finau quite the opposite. The TMO’s have reviewed each time and taken no action, so if they have now been alerted it’s not from people whinging The player comes flying out of the line and launches himself at the attacker so it is probably ruled as a committed tackle, but at what point does it move to tackling a player without the ball Time will tell
11 Go to commentsThis cracked media record of aligning success or failure on head coaches is remarkable. Using the crusaders past history as an example, a more sensible observation and analysis could be that the recent head coaches had inherited a extremely successful combination of players linked to their traditional historical support of the Canterbury people. That period ended this year when the new coach was introduced to virtually a new team. And in a year where other franchises have grown much stronger than their respective past, it was always an anticipated reality that the coach and his new crusader team were up against it. Therefore, I humbly believe that unlike some commentators present, I laud coach Penny and the team for their efforts to date and I am sure given another term and with Canterbury behind them they will be riding high once more. Strange all this coming from me who lives in Taupo and a one eyed chiefs supporter. Can't wait for all future chiefs and crusader games!
10 Go to commentsGrt bench player..keep him there..
3 Go to comments