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The three heaviest players in New Zealand that bring Uini Atonio-level size
New Zealand teams have been undone by power teams on occasion as the game continues to grow with size becoming a large component of the equation.
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At the U20 World Championships in 2023 New Zealand were overpowered by France U20 and the colossal might of lock Posolo Tuilagi weighing in at 149kgs and other massive French forwards.
Tuilagi scored a double in the 35-14 victory, leading head coach Clark Laidlaw to claim that “these men have never come up against forwards that are 150kgs and two or three of them all in the same forward pack, so we have got to learn how we deal with that.”
The All Blacks were undone by the French in the opening game of the 2023 Rugby World Cup where France’s scrum was used to win penalties and points. Former New Zealand schoolboy prop Uini Atonio, clocking in at 145kg, seemed to get the better of loosehead Ethan de Groot.
There is a misconception that New Zealand has limited power options to combat this trend of monster-sized forwards, but in the 2024 Super Rugby squads there are three props who possess the size of Atonio.
The issue for those players is the All Blacks will never select solely on size & power, with technique, skill, mobility, work rate and a host of other intangibles needed to earn selection.
But these prospects provide a level of size that doesn’t grow on trees. The Highlanders, Crusaders and Hurricanes have on the rosters the three heaviest players in New Zealand.
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The first is one that every rugby fan in New Zealand knows about, 2023 All Black debutant Tamaiti Williams, listed at 144kg by the Crusaders.
The 6 ft 5 prop debuted against the Springboks at Mt Smart and featured in eight Tests in 2023 during the Rugby Championship and Rugby World Cup.
Williams was handed big minutes at the Crusaders as they managed an injury crisis that saw veteran John Afoa drafted in as cover after losing Fletcher Newell, George Bower.
It was the 23-year-old who logged 70 plus minutes in multiple games as a tighthead which lead to his call-up with the national side.
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Williams possesses a frame that will be of incredible value as his game develops and he becomes established at international level.
The next prospect is Saula Ma’u, a Tongan-born tighthead prop with the Highlanders who clocks in at 140kg.
After finishing school in Auckland, Ma’u has spent three seasons with Otago in the NPC before making his Highlanders debut in 2022.
Injury setbacks kept him out of action prior to his Super Rugby debut, and he has since logged 22 games for the Highlanders.
He will enter his third year of Super Rugby Pacific at just 23 years old and compete for game time at tighthead with veteran Jermaine Ainsley and young Nelson-product Luca Inch.
The third is Bay of Plenty product Pasilio Tosi who is listed at 140kg and is signed with the Hurricanes.
Tosi is a former No 8 turned prop with strong ball carrying ability that the Hurricanes first picked up in 2021. His debut came in 2022 where he made four appearances and continued that with six more this year.
The 25-year-old will likely deputise for All Black starter Tyrel Lomax in 2024 and look to bring impact late in games off the bench for the Hurricanes.
Size isn’t everything but these three players are the only ones in New Zealand who clock in over the 140kg mark. Even players that reach 130kg are rare, with none currently listed on New Zealand’s Super Rugby rosters currently.
Which means Williams, Tosi and Ma’u have at least 10kg on every other player that they will face in 2024.
Comments on RugbyPass
A Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
2 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
10 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
2 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
1 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
1 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
42 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
45 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
5 Go to comments