'Are you sure about this mate?’ - when two tees became one
Sonatane Takulua will be double and triple checking that one item in particular is in his kit bag when Newcastle Falcons travel to face Leicester Tigers in Saturday’s Gallagher Premiership clash.
The Tongan scrum-half slotted the winning conversion with the very last kick of the Falcons’ 25-23 triumph at Welford Road in April, their first there for 20 years, but not with his own kicking tee.
“I wasn’t thinking I was going to be kicking goals that night because I was on the bench and we had two goal-kickers in the starting side, so the honest truth is that I hadn’t packed my kicking tee,” said Takulua, who was called into action to convert Ally Hogg’s last-minute try.
“When I came on from the bench our skills coach Marko [Mark Laycock] ran on during a stoppage to talk to me, because the coaches up in the box had told him to ask me if I could kick goals for the rest of the game.
“I said I could kick but that I didn’t have my own tee, and they were like ‘ok, if you think you can’.
“The tee that I use is bigger than quite a few of the other guys’ tees, so when we had the kick to win the game right at the end Marko came on with the kicking tees belonging to Juan Pablo Socino and Brett Connon. He asked which one I wanted to use, I was like ‘I’ll have both of them please’ and just stuck them on top of each other.
“It got me roughly the same height as my normal tee, and Marko was saying ‘are you sure about this mate?’
“Looking back it’s a bit strange, but I was remarkably calm during that time. I didn’t panic, I felt really good about taking the kick and it was honestly perfect. I went through my routine like normal, it didn’t feel any different and that feeling when the Falcons fans and the boys were cheering when it went over was just incredible.
“Still, I’ll definitely be packing my own tee for Saturday, just in case!”
Takulua’s Falcons are looking to bounce back from their opening-day defeat to champions Saracens, showing plenty of promise in the 32-21 home reverse but ultimately finishing empty-handed.
“We knew Saracens were going to come out firing but we felt we did the same, and it was frustrating not to come away with anything,” he said.
“We’re going to Leicester this weekend looking to play the same kind of way, and we believe if we do that we can get the result we want.
“We did a lot of good work last Sunday, we’ve parked that game now but there are a lot of positives we can take from it. We’ve had a good week and fixed a few things, and everyone now is just looking forward to getting back out there at Leicester.”
Well aware the Tigers will be fully charged following their midweek change of head coach, Takulua added: “We’re all aware of what has gone on down there but it doesn’t change anything in terms of how we prepare.
“Leicester away is always a tough game. We won there last season and we believe we can do it again, but we’ll have to work for it.
“With their change in head coach I’d think they’ll be looking for nine and ten to control things a little bit more, but they’ll definitely come out and throw everything at us. We’ll just prepare as normal and stick to our system, so it doesn’t really change from our side.
“The atmosphere down there is always big, we love playing in Leicester and these big games are why we play. We won there last season and I don’t see why we can’t do the same thing again.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Why do people keep on picking Ardie at 7 when he's a ball in hand 8? A modern 7 is the lead tackler and ruck clearer which isn't his strength.
14 Go to commentsSly dig there at Ireland’s propensity to back a non-Irish coach. Must really want it. I’m not sure I like ROG very much. Comes off as unpleasant. But he’d gain my respect if he took a number 7 ranked team and turned them into WC winners. Not even back-to-back. Argentina? Scotland? Or how about Wales? France would be too easy, no?
1 Go to commentsA bit of sensationalism, but surprised by the comments about SBW. I’ve always thought of him as a pretty authentic person. There is nothing worse than working with a colleague you’ve seen straight through.
9 Go to comments100% agree with your comment about Touch. I’ve been playing it competitively since Covid. It’s on a Wednesday night after work. It means the weekend is free for time with my family.
1 Go to commentsRodda back is massively important for the Wallabies. Kaitu at hooker important too coz he was very good a few years ago.
1 Go to commentsThe pink cabous might be eligible this year and the Boks don’t need him
7 Go to commentsNasser and kaitu are options for hooker. Especially Nasser. You forgot Rodda who touch wood will be fit at test time and if fit he’s number one. Great partner for the great Skelton and Oz best lineout caller. Third best lock is LSL whom I’d be inclined to sub on for Skelton around 60 minutes. Probably start valetini at 8 because I like a big body back there. Cale should play 6 at the brumbies. For Wallabies definitely cale in the squad but as an apprentice. Dunno who starts at 6 seru wright Swinton hanigan with Will Harris and Harry Wilson not far away. Seru and Swinton my front runners but Swinton is going. Still if we don’t cap seru then Fiji must coz they need his lineout skills and easily compensate for his lack of weight
7 Go to commentsYeah but who was it?
9 Go to commentsThink you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
7 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
14 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
7 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
9 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
9 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
14 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
14 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
7 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
9 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
14 Go to commentsThe 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.
14 Go to comments