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'What a revelation': Samisoni Taukei'aho praised following destructive performance
While it may have taken until the Rugby Championship for Samisoni Taukei’aho to finally get a starting opportunity for the All Blacks this year, the 24-year-old has quickly established himself as a must-pick in the All Blacks line-up.
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Taukei’aho was named man-of-the-match in the All Blacks’ controversial 39-37 win over the Wallabies in Melbourne, with the big hooker crashing over for two crucial tries in the narrow victory. He also finished the game as New Zealand’s most damaging forward will ball-in-hand, clocking up 26 metres off nine carries, and nailed all 10 of his lineout deliveries. All in all, it was another impressive performance from the man who was playing in just his second start mere weeks ago against the Springboks in Mbombela.
After getting pulled from the field relatively early against the Pumas in Christchurch late last month, the Chiefs rake got through 62 minutes of action on Thursday night – but still had to watch the final moments from the sidelines as the All Blacks crashed over for the game-winning try after the buzzer had sounded.
“I think that’s one word to describe it – dramatic – at the end,” Taukei’aho said on the Stan Sports post-game broadcast. “It was quite nerve-wracking, to be honest, sitting on the sidelines watching but full trust in the boys, full confidence they’d get the job done and they did. So, happy.”
While Taukei’aho’s first try came off the back of a driving maul, his second was a thing of beauty, with the 115-kilogram front-rower weaving between Wallabies defenders to crash over after receiving the ball just inside the 22:
15 contra 13. Superioridad numérica y menos mal que termino en try de Samisoni Taukei'aho. #AUSvNZLpic.twitter.com/8Pf3nyNhXy
— Periodismo Rugby (@Perrugby) September 15, 2022
“I think I was just quite lucky,” Taukei’aho said of the try. “I got the ball so I had to finish it because I had five guys outside me. I had to get over the line so I’m just lucky that came off.”
Unsurprisingly, fans were in raptures off the back of another solid performance from a man who’s quickly ascending the ranks of hookers on the global stage.
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Imagine when Samisoni Taukei'aho gets a bit of test experience #AllBlacks
— Jason Pine (@pineynz) September 15, 2022
Samisoni Taukei’aho is quickly ending Codie Taylor's test career.#AUSvNZL
— Jared Wright (@jaredwright17) September 15, 2022
A star is born. In-form hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho scores his 2nd try of the game (with a step and a surge) to put All Blacks 17-10 up early doors in 2nd.
— Marc Hinton (@marchintonnz) September 15, 2022
Samisoni Taukei’aho.
What a revelation he’s been for the All Blacks. #AUSvNZL #BledisloeCup
— Tight Five Rugby (@TightFive_Rugby) September 15, 2022
The dependable Samisoni Taukei'aho, so reliable.
Proper BMT.#AUSvNZL
— The Rick Sanchez of Rugby ?? (@RugbyRickSZ) September 15, 2022
Taukei'aho is the find of the season…helluva player. #Bledisloe
— Craig Ray (@craigray11) September 15, 2022
https://twitter.com/_Sideman44/status/1570369713200316422
Having debuted last year and only taken over from Codie Taylor as the All Blacks’ first-choice hooker this season, coach Ian Foster will no doubt look to get as much experience under Taukei’aho’s belt heading into next year’s flagship Rugby World Cup.
Comments on RugbyPass
Son, whith just " raw athlete “ , you are able to beat “ better rugby players “ by 74 points…. May be England should recruit in athletics….
1 Go to commentsPffft. It’s not a one-way street bud and Irish teams don’t seem to have had an issue taking kiwi players previously.
6 Go to commentsParticularly great to have captain Scott Barrett back after going off last week for the Crusaders. Codie Taylor a real leader and mighty Tamaiti Williams join Fletcher Newell in the front row. Those 2 will make a big difference. Great bench with the likes of Tom Christie, Jamie Hannah etc who are playing well. Should be a great derby.
1 Go to commentsDoes a blitz defence not have a weekness against a well-placed grubber kick, perhaps angled cleverly. All the defence is up and the full-back can only cover so much ground. Thoughts?
28 Go to commentsWhile Iose is destructive in the Canes set-up, he is not big for an international 8 and could struggle against the top teams. With his speed, he could be developed into a seven but, as Ben points out, he doesn’t show a scavenging game with the Canes or make dominating tackles. Sotutu has shown a step up this year and attitude plus motivation seems to be the big areas of growth. Deserves another AB shot imo.
3 Go to commentsNaholo is my only question mark for this side. He wasn’t the only one who had a forgettable game against the Brumbies but he was passive, defensively poor and generally lacked energy. Needs to get a whole lot busier for me. I would have liked to see Sullivan on that wing with Higgins on the bench (if staying with a 6-2 as BeegMike points out on here!)
3 Go to commentsWell, I am sure that Eben said exactly what he meant to say, exactly how he meant to say it. Does he strike you as a man that doesn't know arrogance when he sees it. He should know it because he has shaken the arrogance out of many foes before.
132 Go to commentsPls get it into your thick arrogant heads that the final was played by two Southern Hemisphere teams. The best against the best and that Argentina was just unlucky otherwise non of the Northetn Hemisphere teams would have seen the light of day.
132 Go to commentsAs long as New Zealand youth are involved in sport they are passionate for, and are well supported, it’s all good. I love league as well as rugby. NRL clubs have long since scouted the First 15 competitions, the NH and Japan scout super rugby and NPC. It’s a miracle there’s any players left for the all blacks to pick from.
4 Go to commentsI'm a Bok fan, so I don't say this lightly, but he is one of my all time favourite players. I am really going to miss watching him play. Thanks for many great memories. You are a true legend of the game.
3 Go to commentsBest way to deal with all of this is to play another game.
132 Go to commentsIt’s 12-15 games Luke. Ringrose has barely played in 2024 and Henshaw and Keenan have also been out for spells in the same time period. There are always injuries and for younger players to play with the likes of Barrett will be great for them. It’s just looking for negatives where there are none.
6 Go to commentsAndy Goode pushing his own agenda with very dubious considerations on refereeing performances. Luke Pearce speaking a bit of French doesn’t make him a good and adequate referee for the Champions Cup final; his latest refereeing performance in particular was not so great.
4 Go to commentsJordie knows that he has to earn the right to put on the jersey, whatever that jersey might be.
6 Go to commentsThe best outside centre in the world at one point. He will be greatly missed.
3 Go to commentsYip his great for the big moments when needed as a safa really enjoy watching him
4 Go to commentsOne that will start to come up from now on is penalties for back pushes during kick chase scrambles. Very difficult to detect. In Croke Park if you replay the Hendy NH try, you will see Furbank push Porter in the back, who collides with Larmour knocking the ball across into Hendy’s path to dot down. A more significant example was in the RWC QTR final where Arendse pushes Fickou into two other French players for the ball to spill into Arendse’s path for him to gather and run in to score SAs first try. Not cheating if you are not caught and very difficult to spot but with kicking becoming so critical I feel its an area that will referreeed/TMO-ed more.
4 Go to commentsWhat a pathetic little twit Andy Goode is, as if we care what he thinks…..😂
132 Go to commentsFoxy has been a wonderful player for the Scarlets and Wales.
3 Go to commentsNika the Georgian is the best referee in the world at the moment. Luckily we will be spared the shite SH refs and Barnes will hopefully remain retired given how shite and embarrassing he was at the RWC.
4 Go to comments