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'He is definitely the future': All Blacks new hooker hailed after South Africa tour

Samisoni Taukie'aho. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

The two match tour of South Africa might be the turning point for the All Blacks front row with a new look outfit impressing across the two tests.

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Facing the strength of the Springboks and the famed ‘bomb squad’, Chiefs hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho was a clear stand out performer fighting fire with fire against the Boks pack.

The 25-year-old got the chance to start at hooker in both tests over experienced veterans Codie Taylor and Dane Coles.

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Speaking on Sky Sport NZ’s The Breakdown, former Blues and Leinster midfielder Isa Nacewa said that the explosive No 2 has won the right to keep the jersey going forward.

“In my eyes, he starts,” Nacewa said of the Chiefs hooker.

“He’s been given an opportunity and stepped up in one of the harshest places on Earth to actually go.

“His ability to win the metre and get involved, he doesn’t shy away from any of the contact whatsoever.

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“He hit the nuggets in the lineout, just repeat efforts, he gets off the ground and does more every single game.”

Strong ball carrying has always been the focal point of Taukei’aho’s game but against the Springboks he brought physical defence, a clinical set-piece game and for the most part nailed his lineout throws.

After operating at 80 per cent against Ireland, the All Blacks lineout improved to 88 per cent in the first test with Taukei’aho completing 14 of 16 targets.

In the second test win at Ellis Park the 115kg hooker scored a key try in the first half using his power to barge over Lukhanyo Am from close range and continued to wreck havoc in his 13th test match.

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Former Ireland international Isaac Boss said that there is work to do with his game but that he is the guy that the All Blacks should now build the front row around.

“I still think there is a lot of growth left in his game, he’s not the finished product. He needs a bit of consistency there,” he said.

“There is still an important role for those other hookers to play around him.

“I think he has come along and he is definitely the future in that No 2 shirt and he needs as much time as possible.

Former All Black fullback Mils Muliaina echoed the Irish scrumhalf’s sentiment and explained the positive for the All Blacks is now he will now force the others to lift their game to find form after being below their best.

“Our very experienced hookers aren’t in very good form,” Muliaina said.

“So it’s great for him to get out there, he is the form hooker at the moment and it creates competition.

“Now guys like Codie Taylor have plateaued a little bit, and it happens in careers.

“All it will do now is those guys will lift.

“I like the point that you made Bossy, he’s not the finished product but he’s got an opportunity to continue to grow and push these other guys as well.”

 

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4 Comments
B
Bruiser 828 days ago

This was obvious 2 years ago. 1/2 game in Irish series?? This is why Foster has to go now

N
Nick 828 days ago

Samasoni needs to be joined by Amua, McAllister and Bell. Bell is the next star in the making, bit like a young Fitzy.

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Brett 828 days ago

Sami has been the best hooker in the country as far back as the Irish test last year he should have started every game against Ireland this year not get dropped. Fosters loyalty to some of the older players is the main reason his job is now on the line

M
Michael 828 days ago

Coles should be given the task of mentoring Aumua (Hurricanes) and Ekland and Vikena (Blues) for RWC23 and RWC27

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JW 46 minutes ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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