Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi's quest for redemption
In 2018, Chiefs halfback Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi was selected in the New Zealand national side for the first time.
After earning a handful of starts for the Chiefs, Tahuriorangi was brought into the All Blacks to back-up Smith and TJ Perenara after Tawera Kerr-Barlow left New Zealand’s shores at the end of 2017.
Tahuriorangi, who had spent two years with the Hurricanes before making the move north, was praised by Steve Hansen for his wickedly fast pass which rivalled that of even Aaron Smith.
Although Tahuriorangi was never expected to seriously challenge for a starting role, it was clear that he had been anointed the heir-apparent to the more experienced duo leaping ahead of the likes of Bryn Hall, Mitchell Drummond and Chiefs teammate Brad Weber.
Then everything turned to custard in 2019.
Continue reading below…
Chiefs coach Colin Cooper gave Weber the first opportunity to start at halfback and the 28-year-old took the opportunity with both hands.
Weber’s sumptuous form coupled with his extra few years of experience over Tahuriorangi saw the sometimes-stand-in captain start in all but a handful of the Chiefs’ matches.
Tahuriorangi, who had fought his way onto level pegging with Weber in 2018, was restricted to fewer than three full games of football throughout last year’s Super Rugby season.
Then came the coup de grace.
On August 28th, the All Blacks World Cup squad was announced. Tahuriorangi was nowhere to be seen – Weber had taken his place.
New Zealand's third choice halfback, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, played the equivalent of only eight full games of professional rugby in 2018 and game time has been equally hard to come by this season at the Chiefs. https://t.co/p9smDCvHlo
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 12, 2019
By Tahuriorangi’s own admission, 2019 did not go to plan.
“Last year wasn’t my year,” Tahuriorangi told RugbyPass.
“I guess for me, it’s just making sure I turn it around this year and have a different kind of mindset and attitude and keep putting that pressure on. Just making sure I control what I can control and doing my best and putting my best foot forward.”
Despite the obvious disappointment that Tahuriorangi felt surrounding both the Super Rugby and international seasons, the Rotorua-born scrumhalf didn’t let his head drop – he still has plenty of time to make a comeback.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B74dZlgg-t2/
“Everyone thinks I’m kind of old,” said Tahuriorangi. “I’ve been in the Super Rugby environment for a while, first with the Hurricanes for two years then here for a few years, but I’m still young.”
Tahuriorangi, for reference, is just 24-years-old.
While Weber was mostly clocking up time with the other dirty-dirties at the World Cup, Tahuriorangi was throwing himself into a Mitre 10 Cup campaign with Taranaki and honing his skills for the year ahead.
And although Tahuriorangi would have no doubt loved to have been in Japan with the All Blacks, his time with the Bulls may have actually been a blessing in disguise.
Tahuriorangi racked up eight starts and 10 appearances for the amber-and-blacks, which was the most successive game-time he’d accrued since the 2017 provincial season.
New @ChiefsRugby recruit Quinn Tupaea could add an extra dimension to the Chiefs midfield for their 2020 @SuperRugby campaign. @TomVinicombe spoke to the 20-year-old ahead of the upcoming season.
https://t.co/jIEAWhJ5fr#SuperRugby— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 3, 2020
He’s now taken part in a full pre-season with the Chiefs and enters 2020 with a fresh mind, fresh body and a lofty goal..
“My ultimate goal is obviously getting back into the All Blacks,” said Tahuriorangi, “but it’s also about having little plans.
“How you come to training is just as important as your ultimate goal, because in order to be chosen [for the All Blacks], you’ve got to be playing, and the only way you can play is if you train well.
“When you’ve got halfbacks out there that are chasing the same goals as you, it keeps you on your toes – and that’s awesome, I live for that stuff.”
2020 was supposed to be somewhat of a comeback year for Nathan Harris. Instead, he'll be spending the #SuperRugby season on the sidelines.https://t.co/EL0sZ0Om6N @ChiefsRugby
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 28, 2020
Equally as importantly, the former Rotorua Boys’ High student wants to achieve balance in his professional and personal lives.
“It’s hard to do that mahi, do that work, unless you’re getting the balance right off the field; being a good father, being a good person.
“Last year, my wife Keely probably took it all when I wasn’t playing. I wasn’t quite being myself. I knew I had to come in and always have the attitude of wanting to play. Now that I’ve experienced that, I know how to handle it and channel it in a positive way.”
Tahuriorangi understandably credits the strong support team he has around him for helping him get to where he his today and suggests they have just as major a role to play in his future successes.
“I can happily say that if it wasn’t for [Keely], who knows what I would have done,” said Tahuriorangi.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B7mxmDJAswi/
“When times were tough, she was the one that kept me on true north and made sure all my goals were measurable.
“I’ve got great mentors too: my uncle Lee Edmonds, my father Paerata and my father-in-law Tom. They pushed me when times were tough but when times were good too.
“When I made my All Blacks debut, they were the guys that were telling me ‘stay humble’. It’s guys like that that can keep you grounded – when you’re high and when you’re low.
“It’s not just a one-man journey. I’ve never seen anyone do it by themselves.”
2020 is going to be a wild year for new @ChiefsRugby coach Warren Gatland, writes @TomVinicombe.https://t.co/EwEPz94EMP#SuperRugby #Chiefs
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 5, 2019
Closer to the professional scene, the coaching team that convinced Tahuriorangi to head to Taranaki for his provincial rugby set the halfback on the right course from the early stages of his career.
“I was just a Maori boy from Rotorua, I had no pathway so I’m just thankful for Taranaki. Paul Tito, Dave Dillon and Jono Philips… if it weren’t for those guys, I’d probably be back in Rotorua as a gang member.”
With Weber on an extended rest alongside the Chiefs’ other All Blacks, Tahuriorangi now has the first opportunity to advance his case with new coach Warren Gatland.
Weber didn’t start training with the squad until the middle of January and sat out the Chiefs’ only pre-season game, against the Blues.
That handed Tahurorangi the starting 9 jersey and his performance against his franchise’s northern neighbours didn’t go unnoticed by Gatland.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B70HuWhgWSp/
“I thought Triple T looked sharp,” Gatland said in the post-game wind-up. “We’re pretty happy with what he did.”
With Weber on restricted minutes for the first two matches of the regular season, Tahuriorangi will no doubt have further chances to push for a starting spot – including starting in this weekend’s opening Super Rugby game, between the Chiefs and the Blues – and he may be backed-up by his Taranaki teammate, Lisati Milo-Harris.
“He’s pretty young, exciting, fit – got a beautiful pass,” said Tahuriorangi of Milo-Harris, “It puts good pressure on me and Brad. If we don’t perform, he could easily slip in there.
The battle of the halfbacks will certainly be one of the major talking points for the Chiefs season ahead.
One of Weber’s major strengths compared to Tahuriorangi is his experience, which was sorely needed last year with so many other experienced players out with injury.
Damian McKenzie's return from injury in 2020 will add plenty of firepower to an already scorching @ChiefsRugby backline. Where does the young playmaker fit in, asks @TomVinicombe.
https://t.co/lovnCjm7xv#SuperRugby #ChiefsMana— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 10, 2019
Sam Cane, Brodie Retallick, Damian McKenzie and Michael Allardice all had lengthy spells out of the game.
At the national level, Weber’s experience was also valued highly for the World Cup. Despite being part of the All Blacks squad for a season, Tahuriorangi managed just three appearances over that time.
With the next World Cup four years away, there’s room for some young blood in the set-up once more – and that’s a role Tahuriorangi is aiming to fill.
Of course, as alluded to by the Chief, he’s unlikely to get selected for the All Blacks if he can’t earn selection at Super Rugby level.
So begins Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi’s quest for redemption.
WATCH: Blues loose forward Akira Ioane has revealed how severely his mental health was impacted in 2019.
Comments on RugbyPass
🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
27 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
27 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
27 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood 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.
27 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.
9 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.
27 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?
11 Go to comments