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‘When two Titans meet’: Ex-All Black ready for ‘world-class’ Ethan de Groot
Former All Black Jeffery Toomaga-Allen couldn’t stop smiling when asked about the prospect of packing down opposite “world-class” prop Ethan de Groot for the first time on Friday.
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Toomaga-Allen, who played one test for New Zealand in 2013 but was more recently capped by Samoa, has been named to start at tighthead prop for the Queensland Reds this week.
The 33-year-old joins another former All Black, Alex Hodgman in Queensland’s front row, with try-scoring machine Matt Faessler set to line up alongside the pair in the No. 2 jersey.
While the Reds are without Wallabies Fraser McReight and Tate McDermott through suspension, coach Les Kiss has named a strong side to take on the touring Highlanders.
Head-to-Head
Last 5 Meetings
Wins
1
Draws
0
Wins
4
Average Points scored
26
28
First try wins
20%
Home team wins
80%
One of the matchups to look out for is Toomaga-Allen against de Groot. De Groot would have to be considered a certainty to take the field for the All Blacks against England later this year.
Toomaga-Allen joked about WWE’s WrestleMania and potentially giving it to the Highlanders enforcer before explaining why the challenge that de Groot poses is one he “can’t wait” for.
“Oh mate I can’t wait,” Toomaga-Allen said on Stan Sports’ The Night Before Gameday.
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“I can’t say it on here but WrestleMania was what, last week?
“Nah, I can’t wait. He is a world-class loosehead prop.
“To be fair I am a big fan. I saw him come up through playing with the (Southland) Stags and playing for the All Blacks… earnt that loosehead jersey.
“Seeing him run out with the Landers will be good. I haven’t actually scrummed against him so given that he’s world-class I always want to test myself.
“I’m ready for the challenge… when two Titans meet, that’s what you want.”
Toomaga-Allen is excited for his positional match-up against one of the best props in the world, but the experienced front-rower also understands what this match means for the Reds’ season.
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This is a fixture that both the Reds and Highlanders are desperate to win. With Super Rugby Pacific passing its halfway point, this fixture has a finals-esque feel to it.
The Reds haven’t won since their 53-26 win over the Melbourne Rebels on March 15, and the Highlanders have lost four matches on the trot dating back to the 8th of March in Sydney.
Queensland were widely considered the favourites last time out against Moana Pasifika in New Zealand, but Les Kiss’ men were stunned 17-14 at Okara Park.
“If I’m honest it’s been quite sharp and brutally honest and training,” Toomaga-Allen discussed when asked about training.
“Les, straight in the changing room after that Moana game, just as you want from a head coach is a dose of truth with a dose of reality.
“We’re not far off and we haven’t been far off. A couple of narrow losses.
“But just knowing and believing that we can do it is important to us and Les really drives that and has driven that this week.
“It’s going to be a good game on Friday.”
Comments on RugbyPass
GOTTA MAKE ‘THE GEORGE’ HAPPEN!!!! That’s a great idea! A trans Tasman midget battle on ANZAC Day. I don’t think the ABs Wallabies game should be a one off winner takes all though, just the first match with the other two later in the year with the RC. Reason being, no one will ever shut up about how aussies couldn’t win it when it was a 3 match series.
1 Go to comments@Ben smith. Thats knock out rugby. So honeslty who cares?
146 Go to commentsIt will interesting to know which Irish players said that…
1 Go to commentsNaaaww boys will be boys! Now run along ya wee scamp! Don’t let us catch you at again😏
1 Go to commentsGreat to have Ethan Blackadder back in the Crusaders in the last few weeks. One of the best all round loose forwards around. He played so well last week against the Rebels. Fantastic attitude Ethan has and his comments are spot on.
2 Go to commentsThe author is 100% right. The Springboks know that they don't have near the natural attraction, mana, skill and mystic the All Blacks have. So, Chasing the sun 1 & 2 was concocted to overblow the Boks image on the back of a corruptly obtained “win". It's marketing ploy to force the Boks delusion as the World's Best. I guess World Rugby is also not to be believed when it came out with an apology about how the final was officiated. And if the 2023 final such a superb game by the Boks, then the Boks crying about Referee Bryce Lawrence for decades is also deserves a laugh. Chase the sun and get burned like a moth. A very well written literary piece that tore the Boks and Chasing the sun farce to shreds. 🖤All Blacks🏉
146 Go to commentsI’d say France was far more hard done by in the 2011 final than the All Blacks in this game. Joubert simply refused to call a penalty against the All Blacks in the last quarter even directing an All Black to drop a ball he picked up in an offside position rather than penalizing him. This article also totally discounts the efforts of PSTD. Ask Jordie how well he played. Or the backup flank who played hooker for the entire game. Siya was also a brilliant tackle by Richie from scoring a blinder. Pollard was also fantastic. Look I don’t like the boks style but the only thing more questionable than the content of this article is the timing of it. Get over it already
146 Go to commentsDad Marty was also a handy rugby player for Linwood back in the day. Great bloke. Sensational softball career.
2 Go to commentsWhat ifs are always dangerous. If you look at the game before Sam cane got sent of SA was dominating. You could make the argument the going down to 14 men rallied the troops and made them have to play to win which is always dangerous.
146 Go to commentsOmg… you are bruised And battered Benny. Stop crying … the scoreboard speaks. What a pathetic lover you are.. 🤣🤣🤣
146 Go to commentsPacific Lions, cry me a river
146 Go to commentsThis is the single worst piece of journalism I have ever seen since your last one. As a neutral, who really states that there should be an asterisk next to a win? You are an utter embarrassment to real AB fans, journalism and that joke of a house which pays you for this nonsense. Get a life, Ben.
146 Go to commentsGuys. Cancel the World Cup champions after this analysis. It changes everything. Ben knows. We’ll have to unengrave the Bokke off the trophy and hand it to the ABs, now that I’ve been enlightened about this illegitimate win. This needs to be done. Now!
146 Go to commentsBen is right here though, Springboks were woefully poor with the advantage they had throughout this game. The France match was heroic because that was an even contest this match had it taken place in Rugby Championship would have been an easy win for NZ. If anything this match should tell the Bok coaches that a lot of this team should be changed. They beat this same NZ team by record margin with the same circumstances but with a different core. They bring back the tried and tested guys and they nearly botch this game.
146 Go to commentsI knew who wrote this article from the first few words in the headline…lol. The red card actually did the ABs a favour. It galvanized them, only then did they step up a gear. Before that there was zero momentum.
146 Go to commentsFirstly the foul on Bongi was a planned move just like the NZ master plan with Bryce Lawrence you kiwis are filthy fux perhaps try to play a cleaner game next time I doubt that’s possible tho but don’t worry world rugby is on yr side they trying to take away all the BOKS strengths to help all you weakling as Jeremy Clarkson would say LA OO ZA ERR..🤣
146 Go to commentsAbsolutely spot on Ben. I certainly wouldn't gloat over a win like that. Frustrating as it is it's done and dusted and history will forever show the result.
146 Go to commentsHo hum.
146 Go to commentsNo question they were the better team. But that is the beauty of sport isn’t it!
146 Go to commentsEveryone is into Hurling in Ireland according to Porter, but only 11 of Ireland's 32 counties enter a team into the national competition. Same old blarney.
1 Go to comments