'Owen Franks missing the World Cup... that highlighted how the game has grown, where you don't have any passengers'
John Afoa never expected life in the UK to turn out this handsomely. He had just turned 28 when he called it quits on the All Blacks, a winner’s medal dangling around his neck a fortnight after he had played his last Test, the 2011 quarter-final win over Argentina.
Belfast-based Ulster, Gloucester and now Bristol have been home since then and there is no sign yet of the finishing line for the soon-to-be 36-year-old tighthead. Only last month, not long after being chosen in the Gallagher Premiership’s dream team for 2018/19, the New Zealander signed a contract extension taking him through to June 2021. One in the eye for those who feel rugby is very much becoming a younger man’s sport.
Pushing the boundaries has become a badge of honour to Afoa. “When I left New Zealand I was part of the World Cup-winning team, but I knew I didn’t know it all,” he told RugbyPass. “Just because I was in a successful team, it doesn’t mean you know it all. A big thing that Pat (Lam) drives at Bristol and in other places I have been in is just being coachable.
“So going up to Ulster, I learned things off Allen (Clarke) and the coaches up there about lineouts, about a different way to scrum. Going to Gloucester, we had Laurie (Fisher) at the start and did breakdown work, so I really just invested in trying to better my game.
“Like I said before, I don’t know everything. I’m not the fittest player in the world, so why can’t I get better at that? Why can’t I be better at scrums? That is having the right attitude about being coachable and not having any limits physical.”
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Still, he never fathomed he would be away from home for this long. “Definitely, when I first moved to Ulster many moons ago I was only going to go away for three years. I thought I was 28 then, by 31 I probably would be done and dusted.
“I did three good years, had a great time, and then when Gloucester came knocking, I was like, ‘Feeling good, feeling great, I’ll go down there’. Did four years and it was quite tough at times, but in that final year, Dan Tobin was the trainer and Johan (Ackermann) the coach. I found a little bit of youth again and things were going good.
“Then I got the call again to go down to Bristol and working with Pat, working with the trainers, medical staff, I feel like… I know people say you get better as you get older but I feel like I’m in a great place at the moment. Physically I have been challenging the limits of what a 35-, 36-year-old can do. Why can’t he be just as fit as he was when he was 20? Why can’t he be just as strong?”
Former All Black John Afoa continues to mature like fine wine at Bristol https://t.co/XYVbZgDnJc
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 20, 2019
In all his time in the UK, there has never been an offer for Afoa to go home and go back playing at Super Rugby level, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t tempted to leave. ‘There was a time our kids were getting a bit older, so we were half-thinking about going home and calling it quits.
“But like I said, I have been feeling amazing the last few years and I guess when you play you don’t want regrets when you finish and I think if I did finish any earlier I would always have a ‘What if? I should have kept playing’. At the moment, I’m just happy to be contributing.”
It’s quite the steeled mindset to possess in a sport where the demands now placed on a tighthead are a world away from what the nuts and bolts role used to be in the not-so-distant past. “It is harder,” he insisted.
“The scrums have stayed the same but the expectation around the field is getting more and more. A very good example is Owen (Franks) missing out on the World Cup (with New Zealand). That has just highlighted how the game has grown, where you don’t have any passengers.
“Yes, you have got to be able to do your core job well, but that is not enough any more. You have got to be able to catch and pass, you have got to be able to run lines, you have got to be able to tackle backs even if you are one-on-one.
“That is just the way the game is going and being in the front row is the hardest because again you love a job that is traditionally a big man’s job. You have got to be able to push, you have got to be able to hold down the scrum and lift in the lineouts and then you have got to still be fit enough to run around and do everything else. It’s a tough balance.”
Entertaining insight from @JohnMuldoon8 as he reflects on @premrugby year one at @BristolBears following his switch from @connachtrugby 🐻 #bristolrugby #premiershiprugby
https://t.co/DXvfyEPlhB— liam heagney (@heagneyl) July 14, 2019
The impending Premiership season is currently at the forefront of Afoa’s mind, but that doesn’t mean he won’t have an enthusiastic interest in New Zealand’s bid to win a third consecutive World Cup. A few weeks after their squad was confirmed, he is still taken aback that old rival Franks, the starting tighthead in the 2011 and 2015 triumphs, was suddenly cast aside at the age of 31.
“It was (a surprise). I thought he has been the backbone of the scrum for the ABs. I’m not in the team, so I don’t really know what is going on, but just from what Steve (Hansen) has said they are looking for a more playing prop once the game opens up.
“I’m sure it was a tough call for them but they have a way that they want to play and Owen is not in the mould at the minute. It doesn’t mean in a year’s time he could be doing it for Northampton. That is just the place he is at the moment,” he said, going on to give the All Blacks his backing win a third title on the bounce.
“They have got a strong team and they are always going to be there or thereabouts, but I do think teams like England and Ireland, Wales and Fiji on their day maybe, there is strong enough teams there that can contest it.
“You could see South Africa finish well, and Australia showed they could beat New Zealand. England are playing well, have got a strong squad. Eddie Jones has coached and played in Japan. He knows the craic over there and I do think they will be more wary of the struggles and the hardness of it [playing in Japan].”
Afoa has long since made his own peace with the All Blacks. There was a stretch where he didn’t consider himself a World Cup winner, having only watched the 2011 final from the Eden Park stands. But that perspective has completely changed and there will be a time in the future when the medal that is currently in storage in New Zealand will take pride of place in the Afoa household.
“It was different for me because not playing in the final is always tough,” he explained. “Initially, straight after the World Cup, say the first 12 to 18 months, people were asking how was it winning the World Cup and I always fended off saying, ‘I didn’t win it as I wasn’t part of the team’.
“As I look back now I wasn’t on the field but I still had a strong part to play prepping the team, making sure they were training well, all that kind of stuff, so as the years have gone on I got a better appreciation of what we actually achieved that year in 2011.
“Even though only 22 players could play the whole squad of 33, 34 guys were hanging in there supporting each other,” he said before signing off with a mention of the all-important medal.
“It’s just in a box in storage. In the first few years, my wife kept it in flower box on the top of a cupboard, but now it is just in a cupboard in storage (in New Zealand). Hopefully, when I get home the kids can have more appreciation for it as well.”
WATCH: RugbyPass sits down at the Gallagher Premiership launch with Gloucester’s Johan Ackermann, Harlequins’ Paul Gustard and London Irish’s Declan Kidney
The English domestic season kicks off on September 20 with the Premiership Rugby Cup followed on October 18 – the weekend of the World Cup quarter-finals – with the start of the Gallagher Premiership Rugby campaign
Comments on RugbyPass
The strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
8 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
2 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
2 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
8 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
44 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
8 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
8 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
8 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
8 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
8 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to comments