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England poised to face Big H, the prop who is only 3st lighter than his famous father Veitayaki

(Photo by Dave Rogers/Allsport)

The England front row that will face the Barbarians at Twickenham on Sunday can take comfort from the fact Fiji prop Haereiti Hetet has not inherited all of the rugby attributes of his father, legendary tighthead Joeli Veitayaki.

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He played 49 Test matches between 1994 and 2003 and had the ‘honour’ of being named the heaviest prop at the 2003 World Cup in Australia, tipping the scales a 137kgs (21st 5lbs). That was after he had enjoyed the previous Christmas with his family at 160kgs (25st 3lb).

Fast forward 17 years and it is 23-year-old Hetet’s turn to enter the international stage. He is one of seven players from the Fiji squad preparing for the autumn Test series to be drafted into the Barbarians squad. 

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Vern Cotter, the Fiji coach, has that role with the Barbarians this week and is a fan of the New Zealand Maori player who is known as Big H. He has played loosehead for Waikato and Bay of Plenty and weighs in at 18st 8lbs, nearly three-stone lighter than when his father squeezed into his tight-fitting Fiji jersey at the 2003 World Cup.

Veitayaki had a colourful career, taking a three-year break from the international game with Fiji to play social rugby. He even turned out for Welsh club Dunvant, who climbed up the leagues to qualify for the 1999 European Challenge Cup and were in the same group  with Aurillac, Narbonne and Newcastle who featured Jonny Wilkinson and Va’aiga Tuigamala.

A season spent with Ulster was only memorable for the amount of business the Fijian prop gave local takeaway shops, but Veitayaki returned to the national colours and was part of the Fiji team narrowly beaten 22-20 by Scotland in the final pool match of their 2003 World Cup pool.

Now 53, Veitayaki wanted Hetet to play for the Fijian U20s but was told his son was too young. That is how he ended up playing against Fiji for the New Zealand Maori. 

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“Growing up I always supported Fiji just because it was a part of me. Watching them play every game they play, whether it’s rugby or other sports, I would always back them,” Hetet told Radio NZ. 

“It’s just like being a Kiwi and backing every New Zealander. We played them in Fiji and it was pretty physical, so it will be good to be on their side playing with them (this time around).”

Hetet’s selection in Fiji’s autumn Test squad and the Barbarians came as a big surprise. “It sort of came out of the blue. I got a call (from Vern Cotter) seeing if I was keen? He’d been watching me since last year and likes what he sees I guess, the progress between then and now.”

Cotter is expecting the prop to make a big impression: “Haereiti is an unknown player but his father isn’t, he’s the son of Joeli Veitayaki, somebody who is very well known. Haereiti has really impressed us with his performance as he can play both sides, left and right, and he is very excited about this opportunity.”

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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