Samisoni Taukei'aho: All Blacks replacement hooker previews the South Africa clash at Eden Park

The biggest test of the 2025 calendar has come, with the All Blacks taking on South Africa tonight at Eden Park. 

Regardless of the result, history will be made, either by the All Blacks continuing their undefeated streak at Eden Park, or by the Springboks breaking the record and cementing their dominance on the world stage.  

D'Arcy spoke with All Blacks replacement hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho about the magnitude of this test match, his selection, and the expectations of the coaching staff. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News Talk SEDB.

Speaker 2 (00:11):
Talk about big games, Samothsonian and welcome. Doesn't come much
bigger than this. You don't have been involved in much
bigger matches, but surely this is right up there.

Speaker 1 (00:21):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (00:22):
I'm obviously playing the Springboks is always a pinny call
of being an All Black and last time I played
them was the Walk Cup final, so a bit of
unfinished business, i'd say. So I'm looking forward to to
being out there and getting into it and hopefully get

(00:42):
the win.

Speaker 2 (00:42):
You're not operating on a revenge basis, how are you?

Speaker 3 (00:46):
No, No, there's no revenge. I just enjoyed blaming them there.
They've been number one in the world for a every
long time and obviously one back to back World Cup,
so their quality side and we've got so much respect
for them, but we also know what we can do
when we're when we were playing good footy and we're
executing what our plan and what sorts were very difficult

(01:10):
team to deal with as well, so we're really really confident.

Speaker 2 (01:13):
Yeah, very few changes in the team, Sammy, and I'm
presuming it's because you want to keep the combinations going.
You want to carry on with what you've been doing
and just hope it really clicks. It can be too
far away.

Speaker 3 (01:26):
Yeah, like you touch on, Obviously, continuities is missive and
the players we pick, it's obviously up to the coaches
who they pick. But we get up there and we
put our best foot forward and we compete at training.
And I'm just fortunate there's a lot of good hookers
with me, Broughton and Cody, so anyone could do the job.

(01:49):
So if you get given the opportunity to take it
with both hands and like, it's touch on, Yeah, we're not.
We're not far from from clicking. And obviously our coaches
and group has done an amazing job getting the homework
and what sorts and putting up in the right place
to make plays. And yeah, I just can't wait to
get into the game on Saturday.

Speaker 2 (02:10):
There are a lot of good hookers fighting around Santasni.
So why you Why why did they pick you? Why
you on the bench? Do you do you want to
talk yourself up?

Speaker 3 (02:20):
No? I think I think obviously we've got the the
caudal or the old dog. I got it, old older centurion.
Now Cody he's been leading the way and his professional
He's someone that I look up to him and Coldy
when I came in and they looked after me, take
me under their wing and taught me how to be

(02:41):
an or block not just on the field but off
the field preparation and how you can put yourself in
a in a good spot to compete come come Saturday.
So and he's never changed, He's always we've been working out.
We push each other, but we make each other bitter
as well. So looking forward to to playing with him again.
I think with the thirty six games, I must have

(03:03):
played with for thirty two of those, so we know
each other's game pretty well, and we're going to go
out there and compete and put our best foot forward
and put our team in a good support to come
with the win.

Speaker 2 (03:15):
Expectations from Jason Ryan and raisor Robertson what are they?

Speaker 3 (03:19):
Yeah, Obviously coming onto the game is a bit different
from starting and you can come in in a different situation.
You could be winning or you could be chasing the
game down. So it's being able. Like you touch on,
being accurate executing call roles. It's very important, especially if
you're if you're chasing the game and test footy, you

(03:40):
get a few opportunities to get points or execute your
core role, so just making sure you do that, and
obviously the heart of the team, which is like a
team like the spring Boxer. You might get one or
two opportunity as a team and you've got to nail it.
Doesn't matter if it's in minute one or minute seventy nine.

(04:03):
So when the times call, you step up to the
mark and deliver. So looking forward to that.

Speaker 2 (04:08):
I'm sure we don't want to pick up with the
bones too much of what happened in Argentina, but you
would have looked into that surely.

Speaker 3 (04:14):
Obviously you do your your learnings, your review. We've been
honest with each other and the in the forward peck
and also as a team obviously, which is knew that
it wasn't good enough. It wasn't a black standing, so
we're tidy that up. But once the review was finished,

(04:34):
we move on, take our learnings and look forward to
the spring books and and that's what we've done. And
big training coming up this afternoon and then tomorrow sharpen
up the sword and we're into it. And it's just
a lot of excitement. I think playing in Eden Park,
the Fortress, the home of news and rugby, it's nothing better.

(04:56):
And for ruppie player, this is the games that you
want to play and I can't wait.

Speaker 2 (05:01):
Playing with the All Blacks will rise to the occasion.
But it's not just the game, it's the celebration of
Artie Savia. He's notching up one hundred test matches.

Speaker 3 (05:09):
Yeah, like you touch on I think it's it's not
rocket science if you're into rugby, not just in New
Zealand but around the world. He's a man with a
massive aura, demands respect. He put his put his body
on the line from game one now it's game one hundreds,

(05:30):
so could have not happened to a better person, not
just on the field, but our leader. I guess a
massive leader that leads by his actions doesn't say much,
but it doesn't need to. You see him put his
body on the line and lead with for his actions.
So I think for us as a team, and especially

(05:53):
as a forwardback, we we touch on it. If everyone
played like Artie Savier, the result well take care of itself.
So we go out there and we try to be
the best vision of ourselves, be cousepts. That's what Ardi does,
weak in week out in the Black Jersey. And yes,
just can't wait and it's just a massive opportunity for us,
but for me personally to be the the occasion of

(06:16):
one hundred for Coldy last game and obviously are the
massive leaders you know, not just in our group and
our forward back as well. They've done a lot so yeah.

Speaker 1 (06:29):
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