Antonio Shalfoon: Māori All Blacks player ahead of the clash against Scotland

An international rugby double header is kicking off this afternoon in Whangarei. 

The Black Ferns are taking on the Black Ferns XV from 1:05, followed by the Māori All Blacks clash against Scotland from 3:35.  

Antonio Shalfoon is set to make his debut for the Māori side, and joined Nick Bewley for a chat about playing for the team and his unreal 2025 season so far. 

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Episode Transcript

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

Speaker 2 (00:11):
EDB, News Talks EDB eighteen minutes past seven. Let's get
you to Faraday now International Rugby double head of this
afternoon Black Ferns the Black Ferns fifteen, effectively a trial
as we build towards the Women's Rugby World Cup. That's
from five past one, followed by the Maori All Blacks
against Scotland from three point thirty five. Joining us on

(00:34):
the line now is Locke. Antonio Chalfouna was set to
make his debut for the Mardi this afternoon. Appreciate your
time on game day, Antonio, and congratulations on your selection.
First things first, how are you feeling ahead of what
will be a special occasion?

Speaker 3 (00:49):
Yeah? Really stoked, privileged, grateful. It's about you know, represent
my fucker, papa, myfano against top ten nation that's Scotland.
It's going to be an awesome game.

Speaker 2 (01:04):
Yeah. Can I ask you about your pup. I see
here on the list for the Maori. It's back to
is it the Eastern Bay of Plenty? I know you
you grew up in christ Church?

Speaker 3 (01:14):
Yeah yeah, yeah, here up and yeah, up in there
plenty region up.

Speaker 2 (01:21):
There awesome and as has this tool been all this
couple of weeks been as much about the cultural aspect
as it is the rugby. Can you talk us through
what the last couple of weeks is like. Of course
you've just been over to Japan.

Speaker 3 (01:35):
Yeah, yeah, definitely it's been awesome or kind of you know,
you're full your mers and within the multi culture and
it's been an awesome kind of learning experience and learning
more about about my culture as well. It's been. Yeah,
it's been pretty cool.

Speaker 2 (01:53):
Antonio shall fond with us around the All Sports Breakfast.
What what's been? I don't know the secret source is
the right term, Antonio, but what what? What? What do
you put this past year down to May, your big
campaign and Marco a huge Super Rugby season of course,
culminating in a title with the Crusaders, and now this, well,
what's been a catalyst to such consistent form? Do you think?

Speaker 3 (02:16):
Poor? Great question? Probably not being injured such words don't
happen again for a while. But I think just getting
consistent game time initially has just helped. You know, you
can train as much as you want in the world.
But I think nothing from you. It's playing so last year.
Been able to get it into a runn against Tasman

(02:38):
really helped, just kind of back to back week and
week out, playing eighty minutes, doing that consistency, and yeah,
it was managed to kind of carry that through the
Super Rugby season and I'm just enjoying every day, love
coming and coming into training every day with the boys.
So yeah, it's been good fun.

Speaker 2 (02:55):
Has the body been through it prior to the last
twelve months.

Speaker 3 (03:00):
Yeah, we but yeah, yeah, just probably like most people
had had my fish are injuries. But yeah, now just
they're all learning to all good experiences. Probably wouldn't be
where I am. I wasn't for those, So yeah, what
do you.

Speaker 2 (03:14):
Know about the Scottish up for the courses across the
Chasman The British and Irish Lions are touring Australia. What
do you know about the Scotts? What are you expecting
this afternoon in terms of I imagine fairly different conditions
from from the heat in Japan to t fun are.

Speaker 3 (03:28):
They Yeah, they're a good side. They've definitely got a
lot better over the last few years. As you can
see the six nations they're competing and winning a few
more games. They've got a lot of experience fishing their
Ford pack, so yeah, they'll be looking to be physical upfront,
which will be matching if not going up I know
one player looking forward to playing Fergus Burke number twenty two.

Speaker 2 (03:52):
I was going to ask you about that old Crusaders mate.

Speaker 3 (03:54):
Yeah, hopefully he gets on. If I'm still I'm try
to put a light head on him.

Speaker 2 (04:00):
Isn't that the cool thing about professional rugby though? These
days and to now thesever anticipate going up against you know,
an old teammate from twelve months ago in the international arena,
but here you are.

Speaker 3 (04:13):
Yeah, yeah, it's pretty awesome. I'm pretty cool to see
what Fod's been going over overseas and coll to see
him in the squad and yeah in the time.

Speaker 2 (04:23):
Just lastly, Antonio, a big old day of code were
the under twenties. This morning the Black Ferns are playing
a Black fifth Black Fans fifteen trial game before the
Maori All Blacks against Scotland. Then it's on to the
All Blacks tonight against France. So one of your Crusaders mates,
Christian Leo Willie, making his Test debut what a day
for Code, No doubt after this one for you this afternoon,

(04:46):
you'll be getting in and around the All Blacks as well.

Speaker 3 (04:48):
Yeah, I think a few quite lemonades. Watching the game
tonight will be Yeah, it'll be good to watch, yes,
Stoke for Leo's had an awesome season for us at
the Crusaders. The thoroughly deserves the opportunity. I'm sure I'll
make the most of it.

Speaker 2 (05:00):
Well, look, go really well, Antonio Shelfern up there in
fday this afternoon. CA gratulations on your nod for making
your debut for the MALDI All Blacks. I appreciate time
here on the All Sports Breakfast.

Speaker 3 (05:11):
Awesome, Thank you very much.

Speaker 1 (05:13):
For more from The All Sports Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
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