Samisoni Taukei'aho: All Blacks hooker ahead of the first test of the season

Tonight sees the All Blacks face off against France in the first test of the 2025 Season. 

Hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho has been named as a reserve, and sat down for a one on one with Elliott Smith ahead of the action. 

They chatted about an injury forcing Taukei’aho out of the game for 2024, and how the birth of his first child impacted his perspective in life. 

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Episode Transcript

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

Speaker 2 (00:10):
Talk SEDB Samasonic.

Speaker 3 (00:12):
Congratulations back in the All Black Squad for twenty twenty five.
How good does that feel after what you went through
last year?

Speaker 4 (00:19):
Obviously? Is you never take it for granted? Being watching
the team naming and getting your name Rita to be
an Orbligs always brings big cous pumps excitement, and yeah,
I'm really grateful for what I've been through the last
last twelve months to get big here, really rewarding and

(00:40):
it just can't wait to rip in.

Speaker 3 (00:42):
How did you approach your time off? Was it frustrated?
Would you get strategy to rehab as much as you
possibly can?

Speaker 4 (00:50):
Yeah, obviously a bit disappointed, bit gutted that I couldn't
be in the in a position to be around the
environment last year. But once I get over it, it's
about getting back and coming forward as we framed it,
And yeah, just getting stuck into my rehab and the

(01:11):
physios and stuff had a certain date for me to
work towards, so there was quite a little silver lining.
And then you just keep going and achieving little milestones
here and there, and I think it was really helpful.
Obviously having my first boy roam as well, so there
was something really exciting to look forward to.

Speaker 2 (01:29):
So yeah, how did that change change things around the house? Everything?

Speaker 4 (01:34):
I think it changed not just around the house but
my perspective in life. And it's really exciting. And obviously
coming into a ruppie environment and a rugby season, you've
got a wall for a reason to do what you
do and do to the best of your ability, because
it's not always not about yourself or your partner anymore.

(01:56):
You've got a little boy to look look look after,
so really exciting.

Speaker 3 (02:00):
Yeah, how did you feel you played through that that
Chief season? Obviously going all the way to the final,
you feel like I'm a pretty good, pretty good touch personally.

Speaker 4 (02:08):
Obviously coming back was just getting some rugby into the
body and building building the body back up after having
a lot a long time on the on the sideline.
But I say, got some more minutes and start getting
into my work if the body is feeling good, and yeah,
coming into this all black seasons really feeling fresh and

(02:30):
ready to go.

Speaker 3 (02:31):
Yeah, obviously last text you played was that the World
Cup final. I guess members of the team they've had
a chance to flush that movee to the side. Does
it still hang around for you given you haven't played
a match since or you're well over that.

Speaker 4 (02:42):
I think it's that's a long time ago now and
obviously with the new season brings a new excitement and yeah,
I'm going over with that and I'm just looking forward
to the French series first up and obviously done in Dunedin,
sold out stadium. Just can't wait to get into it.

Speaker 2 (03:02):
New coach for you as well.

Speaker 3 (03:03):
And in terms of Scott Robertson, have you adapted to that,
what's changed around the environment in your first time in here.

Speaker 4 (03:09):
Yeah, it's really exciting. Obviously, Razor bring something new into
the environment and I'm really excited about then. And obviously
Chase Ryan was working with us pre World Cup and
he's still looking after the Type five, so work with
him before and all the Scott Hens and all the
new coaches times. Everyone's been really helpful the last three

(03:34):
days in camp and really excited to work with them here.

Speaker 3 (03:37):
A big series coming up against the French. What do
you expect from them? What are they going to bring
to the series?

Speaker 4 (03:44):
Very strong side every time I played the French as
physical confrontrational they like to I guess they rely on
their peck to get them going forward, and they play
a type of rugby day's really exciting but also really brutal.

Speaker 2 (04:02):
So for us preparing.

Speaker 4 (04:05):
For for the US as forwards that front door mentality
and getting out of the gate and meeting them. But
also the French never know what what they got in
their back pocket, So we're preparing really well and for anything.

Speaker 2 (04:21):
That could happen.

Speaker 3 (04:21):
Yeah, and it's acause a French team that maybe we
don't know a lot about some of those players, but
that could be in some ways dangerous.

Speaker 2 (04:27):
You know, they've got nothing to lose and a chance
to prove themselves on this tour.

Speaker 4 (04:31):
I think we know who we're going up against. We've
done our homework and we know the squad that they're
bringing and and know there's no way we're underestimating any
team in this In a test arena, it's called test
Mitchell a reason nothing comes easy or tests you physically
mentally and tests your character the kids that you have

(04:53):
for the Black jersey. So we're preparing like we're playing
a final in a World Cup. Every every weekend. We
take our learnings and go against So it's going to
be a big, free, free Test series and I can't work.

Speaker 3 (05:05):
Just finally kicking off at a sold out stadium in
Dunedin under the roof all Blacks seem to like starting
the season there.

Speaker 2 (05:12):
How special could that be? Saturday night?

Speaker 4 (05:14):
I think every testmentch is as a special not just
for us as players, but for the fans. Have started
for a new season, and yeah, just can't wait. It's
sold out. It'd be good to have the whole stadium
covered in black and supporting the supporting US.

Speaker 2 (05:29):
And yeah, just can't wait.

Speaker 4 (05:31):
Like you said, it's really excited to start the new
year there and go from there. Yeah.

Speaker 1 (05:35):
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