'You'd almost rather miss a kick in a game than lose to Lima' - Highlanders flyhalf Josh Ioane on his competitions with Sopoaga
Highlanders flyhalf Josh Ioane has been a sensation since hitting the Super Rugby scene in 2018, stepping up to fill the first five role once occupied by Liam Sopoaga until he made the high profile move to join Wasps in the Premiership.
The flyhalf detailed his experiences with the hyper-competitive Sopoaga as a rookie joining the Highlanders camp as an injury cover when he was a not-so-known prospect coming out of Kings College in Auckland on this week’s Aotearoa Rugby Pod.
In the professional environment, the trainings can become super competitive and mini-skill games are often are played with small bets to increase the stakes. Ioane explained how these situations unfold within position groups.
“One thing at the Landers at the end of training, we’ll do one-on-one within your position. It just brings out that competition, that competitive edge. One training I’ll have to kick against Mitchy [Hunt] or Bryn [Gatland], or Ash [Dixon] will have to throw against Coltsy [Coltman],” Ioane explained.
“The old boys definitively don’t like the young boys getting those ones.
Josh Ioane would compete with Lima Sopoaga in goal kicking challenges that became unbearable if he lost, with the experienced All Black making it known to the younger challenger he had lost.
“Lima definitely helped me with my goal kicking. But we were versing each other nearly every day, or at least every week. If you lost to him… you’d almost rather miss a kick in a game than lose to Lima because his chat after… I’d go home and just be like ‘man, I want to smack him.'”
“One training, it came down to the last kick between me and Lima, I had to get it to tie it.
“This was after training, he gets all boys, ‘boys, boys, come look at Josh miss, come look at Josh miss’. So all the older boys start running over, you know Elliot Dixon, they want to put this pressure on this young buck that’s just come in.
“And then Lima’s yelling, ‘Azza, did you really sign this guy, he can’t even kick?’.
“I don’t think I hit that kick, I was like ‘ohhh’, it was hard to make. Those sort of things, those are like game day actions. At the time, it’s a lot of pressure but it makes you better for the game.
When Ioane first got the chance to train with the Highlanders as an injury replacement for a week, he wanted to make the most of it and sought out Sopoaga to seek his advice on how to learn his trade as a goal kicker.
“When I first came in with the Highlanders as an injury replacement I thought I’d only be in for a week. I really wanted to learn how to goal kick, so for that week I learnt, I went to Lima and said ‘can you teach me how to kick?’
“He taught me, gave me a few things, and then the very first competition we had, the same day I asked him, I won the first one.
“I was a little bit embarrassed because I didn’t really know him and he had just given me all this help and I won. Then he wouldn’t let me leave, he was like ‘nah, double or nothing’ for a coffee and a muffin, and I won again.
“I didn’t want to win. At this stage, I didn’t want to win. I didn’t know him and he’d given me all these tips and I won again I was like ‘oh no’.”
“The next day he rocks in, he gives me a coffee and a muffin, and he’s like ‘we’re going again today’. I think he won the next 15, 16 competitions.
“He’s just in your ear, he’ll get his phone out and video you, he’s a sore loser, I’ll tell you that!”
Comments on RugbyPass
Some dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
1 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
7 Go to commentsYou doing the same thing I disliked about the example of Samisoni Taukei'aho, Nick. He’s great the way he is, you’re trying to do what modern-day coaches frustrate me doing, turning everyone into the perfect athlete. Next thing you’ll be telling me you’ll bench him until he’s hit that arbitrary marker, and can’t overtake the current guy who’s doing all his workons. He’s a young Kieran Read, through and through, plays wide and has threat, mainly (and evident in your clips) through his two hand carry and speed. Just let him work on that, or whatever he wants, and determine his own future. Play God and you risk the players going sideways, like Read did, instead of being a Toutai Kefu. I mean I was in the same camp for a while, wanting our tight five to have the size, and carry ability, as the teams they were getting beat by. Now I’m starting to believe those teams just have better skilled and practiced individuals, bigger by upwards of 5kg sometimes, sure, but more influentially they have those intrinsic skills of trust and awareness. Basically our guys just didn’t know wtf they were doing. Don’t think I’m trying to prove a point here but hasn’t Caleb Clarke been in much better form this year, or does he just ‘look’ better now that he’s not always trying to use his size?
43 Go to commentsThe pack lacks a little in height for the line out and I wouldn’t be completely convinced by some of the combinations till we see it in action.
7 Go to commentsThe side is good but lacks experience. International playing bona fides udually trumps super rugby form for good reason. And incumbents are usually stuck with. Codie Taylor should start or come off the bench. B Barrett will start at fullback. Blackadder has not earned the position, Finau has. TJs experience and competitiveness earns him a starting role, Christie or Ratima off the bench
7 Go to commentsPretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
7 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
7 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
7 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to comments