Kyren Taumoefolau: Moana Pasifika winger previews the clash against the Brumbies

Moana Pasifika coach Tana Umaga admits Ardie Savea is in need of his All Blacks rest week after leaving him out of his Super Rugby Pacific side to host the Brumbies tomorrow in Pukekohe. 

Sione Havili Talitui will start at openside flanker and also shoulder the captaincy responsibilities. 

Umaga says Savea's carrying a few niggles after last weekend's loss to the Blues. 

Moana's superstar winger Kyren Taumoefolau joined D'Arcy Waldegrave to preview their clash against the Brumbies in South Auckland.  

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Wildgrave from News Talk s'b Milana VI.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
The Brumby's is a happening and we joined it now
by Karen Tomorrow.

Speaker 3 (00:16):
Flour as we talk to that game.

Speaker 2 (00:19):
Good morning, Karen. Yeah, I'm good. You've got eleven on
your back or fourteen?

Speaker 3 (00:25):
But where are you playing? This Week's a little team
came out. I thought old.

Speaker 2 (00:28):
I thought you were a right winger, but it may
be named as a left winger. Can you just confirm
the drama here for us?

Speaker 4 (00:34):
Yeah, I said, christ I've actually I'm playing number eleven.
I'm on my back, but I'm playing right wing. I
think it might be I'm too sure what the go
behind that. Yeah, I'll be on the right wing this week.

Speaker 2 (00:48):
If you don't care right because you're playing, it doesn't
really matter what numbers on your back.

Speaker 4 (00:51):
Yeah, it doesn't matter as long as I'm on that
right wing with this, and I don't care.

Speaker 2 (00:55):
I expect you would have spent a bit of time
with the coaching staff seeing the team. M In fact,
everybody looking back at what happened with the Blues last week,
did you come to any conclusion as to why you
didn't quite fire.

Speaker 4 (01:07):
Yeah, I think first half started slow bo osh, the
physicality battle gets the Blues early on in the game,
and yeah, I think that we just had a slow start.
Seeking half was way better half for us. I think
it ended up points being jaw But yeah, we took
learnings on Monday and looking to Yeah, looking to implement

(01:29):
them and perform against the Bombie to day.

Speaker 2 (01:31):
So this has been a consistency, hasn't it. Where you
guys have managed to put together forty or sixty minutes,
but that last twenty has just eluded you. But when
you get that right, you can run over anybody. Is
there a lot of talk around how you can keep
that energy that intensely lifted for the whole eighty.

Speaker 4 (01:51):
Yeah, one hundred percent. I think we just go back
to our process, making sure that we every week that
we're just saying process driven. I think we've got from
Monday to Friday getting everything now, taking it day by day.
I think that the consistency in our games, our best
performances are when we're really consistent with our process. So
I think our training day is given the most being aligned.

(02:13):
And I think against the Brumbies, I think we're all
aligned and what we want to do, what we want
to get out of it. We know it's going to
be a wet weather footy, so we know we want
to play in the right areas of the field and
we've got to fund up physically to start the match.

Speaker 2 (02:25):
You've got no Artie this week. I mean, the guy
needs a rest. He's not superhuman, although some people would
argue he is. I mean you've been in changing sheds
with him. He's wears underpants on the outside as well
as the what's it going to be like without him around?

Speaker 4 (02:39):
I think it's going to be. Yeah, it's a loss
for us, but it's going to be good for him
to refreshery set plaid, a lot of footy, a lot
of test foot as well. I think it's just good
for him. He came in early full preseason with minea PACIFICA,
so it's going to be good for him just to
have that resting period. And but for us, it's time
to step up our leaders in our group. We've got
some good forwards in his position, so I know they're

(03:02):
going to step up and nail the rock this week.

Speaker 2 (03:05):
I expect the call after an outing last week would
be fully back fully energy again as well after he sat.

Speaker 3 (03:11):
Down for a bit.

Speaker 4 (03:11):
Yeah, one hundred. I think Mara has been playing unreal
footy this year. He will definitely step up this week
into the brumblees withaadi away.

Speaker 2 (03:20):
What happens during that Monday to Friday Whnardi's not playing.

Speaker 3 (03:24):
Does he work here as well? Is he there at
training screaming and shouting?

Speaker 2 (03:28):
I don't know.

Speaker 3 (03:29):
Is he a screamer and a showder? I don't know.

Speaker 4 (03:31):
He's he's a leader. He's a genuine leader. With him
that's more leads by action and then once he says something,
I'm buying and listening. He's leader by actions and he
just says when it needs to be seid. He doesn't
overtalk or doesn't overlead, and I think he's been with
us for a few days, but I think he's going
home to refresh back in Wellington. So yeah, I see.

Speaker 2 (03:55):
As well, Kuren, that you've got Patrick Pellegrini back in
that pivot possession. I think it was quite a surprise
for people last week, but since he's turned up a
few weeks back, he's had quite the effect on on
the teams. Was that spoken by match Hay and like,
I'm not slurring your previous team, but he's the go
to black at the moment, isn't he.

Speaker 4 (04:14):
He's been playing unreal code. He puts in the right
positions and he's he lights up on attack as well
as his kicking game. So it's pretty cool to have
him back in the mix of both. Tends are very
good tends. And yeah, looking forward to see how he
goes this week, and I know he's excited to start again,
so yeah, it should be good.

Speaker 2 (04:33):
You would have heard of the talk around Karen about
super teams looking at you because you've been in quite
the form yourself. Are you pay any attention to that
or more so, has anyone approached you? Mate?

Speaker 3 (04:43):
You've been shoulder tapped yet because there are teams out
there who want you.

Speaker 4 (04:47):
Yeah, I've I've been My age has been been had
up by a few teams. But I think for me,
I just kep my head down and just performance for
miners most important thing. So for me, it's just make
sure I'm doing everything I can for the team and performed.
Just keeping the process and making sure that I'm trying
to level up every week.

Speaker 3 (05:07):
That you're a Marco boy, the Crusaders will be looking
at you. They love flogging talent from Nelson. They can't
help themselves.

Speaker 4 (05:15):
Sure. Yeah, I haven't made a decision yet, so not sure.

Speaker 2 (05:20):
Oh you've got to focus on today and that game
kicks off at four point thirty five against the Brumbies.
And the last thing, Karen playing at Pooky cor Head.
That's got to be good for your soul, doesn't it.

Speaker 4 (05:31):
Yeah, it's awesome. It's playing in front of our people.
I know there's going to be a nice, specificate crowd
there and they'll be charging, eating some some island food
and it's going to be good. It's gonna be a
good share.

Speaker 3 (05:42):
What's your favorite island food?

Speaker 4 (05:44):
Favorite island food would have to be chop SUI.

Speaker 2 (05:47):
I knew that was coming. I knew that was coming.
Goaren to my follow Thank you very much for your time.
You get in this afternoon and rip it up, my friend,
rip it up.

Speaker 4 (05:56):
Cheers, Thank you at it. Have a good one.

Speaker 1 (05:59):
For more from the All Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
listen live to News Talk Said Be on Saturday mornings
of the podcast on iHeartRadio.