Peter Lakai: All Black ahead of his test rugby debut against Japan

All Black-in-waiting Peter Lakai has declared himself ready for the step-up to test rugby this evening. 

Lakai and Hurricanes teammate Ruben Love are poised for debuts off the bench against Japan in Yokohama. 

Newstalk ZB Rugby Editor Elliott Smith caught up with Lakai ahead of his test debut.  

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldegrave from News Talk ZEDB Peter Love.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
I congratulations pays for a test taboo this weekend. How
special is at?

Speaker 3 (00:16):
Yeah, it's pretty special, you know. I always dream of,
you know, putting on a black jersey as a as
a New Zealander. So yeah, just looking forward to it.
And if I get my opportunity to get on, yeah,
we'll be special.

Speaker 2 (00:29):
It was only a week or so ago that you
think you're in the New Yale fifteen and preparing to
play a semi final for Wellington.

Speaker 4 (00:35):
It's changed pretty quickly for you, hasn't it.

Speaker 3 (00:38):
You know, it has sort of caught me by surprise.
Reza gave me to call on Monday as I was
heading into the lines training and yeah, and spin Cereal,
you know, coming into camp and you know, getting ready
for to potentially debut as your spin spin Cereal.

Speaker 2 (00:56):
I saw Sam Kaynes, your roommate this week. How much
of you learned from him over the last few days.

Speaker 3 (01:02):
Yeah, I've learned a lot of Sam, you know, off
the field and on the field as well. You know,
he's a true professional and what he does and and yeah,
he's a true leader, so you know, he's helped me.
He's helped me a lot.

Speaker 2 (01:14):
What do you think is the biggest things that you've
been able to improve on in the last twelve months,
you know, in terms of your game to get you
in this All Black squad, I.

Speaker 3 (01:24):
Would say just preperation, just understanding what it takes to
you know, prepare for a big for a big game,
you know, sort of I sort of always knew I
had the ability, but now it's just, you know, how
can I be consistent? I guess, And that's what I felt.
That's what I've improved on the last twelve months. I guess.

Speaker 2 (01:45):
How much do you value your versatility being able to
play right across that loose Ford trio?

Speaker 3 (01:50):
Yeah, quite a bit of. Yeah, during the week on
now off one row and then halfway through the week
on now off another just especially coming off the bench,
you know, I don't know where you're going to come
on as, and yeah, I'd just like to prepare for,
you know, worst case scenarios. So yeah, just get over
all my stuff so that you can play carefree come game.

Speaker 2 (02:14):
There is that what you've been told to expect this
weekend that you might be covering all those positions or
is it one in particular that you've been tasked with
this week?

Speaker 3 (02:23):
Yeah, sorta, and I've been saving in and out with
Sam Caine Nail in their seven roll. But yeah, just
just from prepping just in case might come on at eight.
So yeah, just gotta prep for both scenarios.

Speaker 2 (02:42):
What do you expect from Test rugby if you get
on on Saturday.

Speaker 3 (02:47):
I'm expecting it'll be a lot quicker, a lot more
physical as well. So yeah, just getting my mind right
and I mentally preparing for that for that as well
as has been a part of my prep and we'll
be a part of my prep leading up to say there.

Speaker 4 (03:03):
It's going to be a close run thing.

Speaker 2 (03:04):
You're going to try and keep an eye the n
PC final on Saturday.

Speaker 3 (03:08):
Yeah, I'll try my I try my best too, but yeah,
I think we'll be on the bus when they kick off,
so now I'll be locked in. But yeah, hopefully hopefully
after the Test match I can see the score and
hopefully willing toon get.

Speaker 2 (03:23):
Up special to be debuting alongside Ruben Love as well.
We sweaking to play with a lot at NPC in
super level.

Speaker 3 (03:30):
Yeah, no, me and Rubens, you know, sort of come
up together for a few years in Lions. You know,
Ruben's been a real help in my career during the
early stage as a mate as well. So yeah, no,
it's good. It's good to you know, see him get
his opportunity as well. First time in Japan, Yeah, first

(03:52):
time in Japan. Yeah, we enjoyed it. Yeah, it's been good,
enjoying the culture. You know, a lot of polite people,
not as chaotic for the amount of people they stay here,
which is which is quite quite nice to see.

Speaker 4 (04:05):
What would have been told to expect from the Japanese
side on the weekend.

Speaker 3 (04:09):
We just expecting a fast paced game. You know, they
like to keep the ball on play and you know
try and run us around. So yeah, we can expect
that from the Japanese voice.

Speaker 1 (04:21):
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