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What the World Cup's heaviest player makes of Bok pack and Ox Nche
By Ian Cameron
When it comes to professional rugby players, they don’t come much bigger than Ben Tameifuna. The 151kg behemoth spoke to the press as Tonga face the equally sizeable task of playing South Africa at a Rugby World Cup.
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‘Big Ben’ is the heaviest player at the Rugby World Cup, edging out France prop Uini Atonio by 4kgs.
A veteran of 2019, Tameifuna is not underestimating the task in hand against a Springboks side smarting from defeat to world No.1s Ireland last weekend.
“They like to run straight and more direct than Ireland and Scotland who tend to move the ball a bit more.
“I haven’t played (Eben) Etzebeth and them in a while, since he was at Toulon, but it will be good to clash once again with the current best in the world. That’s the best way you can test yourself as a player.
“They’re big boys. They’ve been together longer, they tend to build their chemistry around the scrum.
“The teams they’ve played against so far, they’ve done a job on them. They’re the best in the world for a reason.”
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The giant Bordeaux tighthead also had a word for how he might deal with the man he will face at scrum time, South Africa loosehead Ox Nche.
“It’s find out and see innit? [He’s a] 100 per cent big boy,” said Tameifuna. “I think when he was playing for the Sharks and I was with Bordeaux, I tore my hamstring and didn’t get to play against them in South Africa, which would (have been) my first time against him. It will be awesome, I’m looking forward to it.
“We had a tough look at ourselves on Monday and Tuesday. Obviously we had to review ourselves, get a good look in the mirror. Since then we’ve put that aside, we’ve just been focusing on South Africa and putting a performance out there we can be proud of come midnight on Sunday night. Our mood has been good.”
Tonga will be spoiling for a bluey. They have nothing to win or lose from this match, other than stirring the pot.