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Otago's rookie try-scoring machine excites Josh Ioane as team named for Ranfurly Shield challenge
If Otago are to have any chance of bringing the Ranfurly Shield back to Dunedin this weekend, it would be hard to imagine the province’s electric back three not playing a big role in making that happen.
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Of their outside back trio, All Blacks Sevens stars Jona Nareki and Vilimoni Koroi were sensational in Otago’s 36-25 win over Manawatu in Palmerston North last weekend.
Both players made life tough for the Turbos defence, with the latter bagging a brace of tries in what was a man-of-the-match performance, but it could be the efforts of their less heralded teammate that may prove to be just as valuable.
Starting in his first game at Mitre 10 Cup level, Freedom Vaha’akolo shone on the provincial stage a week after making a brief debut against his hometown side Auckland in a 38-6 thrashing at Forsyth Barr Stadium.
A relatively quiet first half was followed by an explosive second stanza, whereby the 23-year-old rookie showed touches of magic to score his first-ever Mitre 10 Cup try and set up captain Michael Collins with an intercept and an audacious flick pass.
His hulking frame and considerable power balances out athletic traits of speed and agility brought to the table by Nareki and Koroi, while his skill set is on the same level as the Highlanders pair.
It will be welcome news to Otago fans, then, that all three players have retained their places in an unchanged starting lineup to challenge Taranaki for the Ranfurly Shield in Inglewood this Sunday.
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Among those eager to see what more Vaha’akolo can offer at this level is Otago first-five Josh Ioane, who also looms as an integral figure in reclaiming the Log O’ Wood for the second time in as many years.
Speaking to RugbyPass earlier this week, the one-test All Black said Vaha’akolo had been training with the Highlanders throughout Super Rugby Aotearoa after lighting up the Auckland club competition, having scored 21 tries for Ponsonby last season.
“Freedom’s been training with us at the Highlanders. [I’ve] been able to see how good of a player he is, and he definitely showed that on the weekend,” Ioane said of the former Auckland age-grade and sevens representative.
“He looked quite dangerous and looked like a quality football player. [I’ve] been working with him the past few weeks, so it’s good to see him have a crack.”
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Can @WaikatoRugby tip up Tasman in Nelson? They've certainly got the team to do it.https://t.co/ege4R9BiaX
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 25, 2020
Ioane himself looked comfortable in the blue and gold No. 10 jersey against Manawatu, showing off his esteemed running game and scoring 13 points from the boot.
Despite that, he stressed there was plenty to work on if the Razorbacks are to take down a Bulls side that will be without Beauden and Jordie Barrett.
A leaky defence in the opening and closing 15 minutes of the game allowed Manawatu to score all of their points, which is something that will likely have been addressed during the week by Otago head coach Tom Donnelly.
“That last 10 [minutes] probably let us down. Manawatu were able to cross the line a couple of times,” Ioane said upon reflection of the encounter.
“We reviewed our game on the weekend and there’s plenty of positives and negatives – a few work-ons, I should say – so we’re looking to fix those.”
The 25-year-old is no stranger to Ranfurly Shield fever, having started in Otago’s 23-19 win over Waikato in 2018 which saw the snatch the coveted silverware off the Mooloos for the second time in five years.
He also played in three of Otago’s Shield defences against Manawatu, Waikato and Canterbury last year, with the then-holders fighting off the former two sides before falling short against their South Island neighbours.
With considerable big-match experience at provincial level, Ioane knows that if Otago is to cut short Taranaki’s reign as Shield holders after just eight days, his side will need to play to the best of their abilities.
“It’s a big game. I’m going there thinking Taranaki’s going to bring their best, it’s not going to be an easy game,” he said.
“For us at Otago, we’re just focusing on preparing well and giving ourselves the best chance [of winning].”
Otago team to play Taranaki:
1. George Bower, 2. Liam Coltman, 3. Josh Hohneck, 4. Jack Regan, 5. Will Tucker, 6. Charles Elton, 7. Slade McDowall, 8. Dylan Nel, 9. Kayne Hammington, 10. Josh Ioane, 11. Jona Nareki, 12. Aleki Morris-Lome, 13. Michael Collins (c), 14. Freedom Vaha’akolo, 15. Vilimoni Koroi.
Reserves: 16. Ricky Jackson, 17. Jonah Aiona, 18. Hisa Sasagi, 19. Josh Hill, 20. Nasi Manu, 21. James Arscott, 22. Josh Timu, 23. Mitchell Scott.
Comments on RugbyPass
Good 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.
16 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.
7 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.
16 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?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
16 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
16 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
16 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
16 Go to comments