August 29, 2024 • 7 mins
All Black prop Ofa Tu'ungafasi joins Hamish McKay to chat ahead of the weekend's big test
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
The country's board.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Breakfast on your Friday morning on Gold Sport and iHeartRadio
after South Africa of course the wee small hours of
Sunday morning, it is the All Blacks taking on the
World Champions South Africans at Alice Park in Johannesburg and
joining us now to have a look at this from
the engine room of the All Blacks.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
In fact, the scrum that has been going so well
of late.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Off a Tawangasi off, welcome to the show house. Things
going over there. The preparation been good.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Yeah, oh thanks for having me. Yeah, it's been great here.
Obviously it to place South Africa here on Saturday, but yeah,
we love coming here other people and yeah, looking forward
to the challenge opportunity on Saturday. Off.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Is it a bit special having sort of back to
back test matches almost like a mini series and mini tour,
especially to a place that we the is rugby in
a similar way to the way New Zealanders do.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Yeah, obviously like the Argentinian Teast. Obviously get to play
in the first week and yeah both teams have I
got lock ech other and then you get to have
a go on on the week after. But lock the
country itself. We will get a lot of people outside
and and everywhere we go and other people who are
(01:28):
excited for that just mentioned. Obviously there's a lot of
history between the other two countries, and yeah, it's very exciting.
We can't wait.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Okay, so what about the old you know, you would
have heard about the old stories of going up to
altitude and playing on the high volt Is that something
you still consider or is it less of an issue
in a one off game.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Yeah, I don't words. I think we acknowledge all those
things when when we get here. Mostly it's going to
be tough, the hostile environment, but we look at things
as an opportunity, you know, the challenge, but it's also
an opportunity for us to know the challenge yourself, and
and there and performance that you know, thew Zealanders and
(02:13):
our stands back home, well we'll.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
You know, enjoy yeah too, right, how.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
But you know, I was a pretty average sort of
prop but I love the scrum and I believe the
scrum is integral and it's proved time and time again,
even though we don't have enough of them. But you
guys must be really rapped with the current scrum that
you're putting out there, and and it goes right through
all the props.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
We don't lose anything. In fact, we're dominating. How pleasing
is that.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Yeah, we we're quite lucky back home. Obviously we've got first,
we've got we've got a look of good props, Our
prop and stock back home is as healthy. And also
we've got you know, some great coaches, scrum coaches over
the years and obviously doing a great job with us
at the moment. And and yeah, it's going to be
an exciting battle. I say, there's the spring box. Also
(03:05):
have got a very good scrum right through the the square.
Obviously you heard about the bomb squad and then how
they got back their work when they when they go on.
But yeah, we're confident and and and and our plan
and in the place that we have Llie and and
Tmighty obviously starting and then myself and Fletcher coming off
(03:28):
the bench. I think there's an opportunity there for us. Obviously, Oscar,
like you said, it has been going really well the
last two chisses. But we're looking for to say that
I think we you know, there's an opportunity for us
there to you know, to to have a dig at
the at the South Africans on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Yeah, does it frustrate you that there aren't as many
SCRAMs in the modern game, particularly test level, because I
think in that one of those Argentina there hadn't been
any and you came on and there were three or four,
so that must have been quite.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
Yeah, well that that was just unusual. You know, I
don't think I've seen and a lot of people saying
that they've never seen that before. Sixty minutes and tis
rugby without a scram. But as you saw, you know,
that's one part of our game that we you know,
that we're proud of and we think that that's going
strong for us. But yeah, we love SCRAMs obviously the
(04:28):
props and then I think that's a big part of
our game. But it comes down to obviously to time
and place. You know, condition can play a big part
of on the metch and on the match and you know, look,
we it's just a reflection of the game. I reckon obviously,
teams and players improving skills wise, and you know, like
(04:51):
there's list here and now and then tis forty so
you know we'll be hanging on for a scram.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Yeah too, right, what are you hearing out of the
South African camp? A bit of uh conjecture around whether
even Exibit will play, but it seems he's highly likely to.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Now haven't. I haven't hit a lock at you know
what's going on, and they can but yeah, I honestly
don't know. He's a great player, and I'm sure they'll
don't do anything, you know, everything for for him to
be made by so because the opportunity for us and
and our pack to put again in term because obviously
(05:28):
he's one of the disc player.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
How's the coach his mood been this week? Razor is
he is he? You know he'd be he'd be you know,
so much riding on a game.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Like this is he's sort of a normal self of
or if you noticed a bit of an edge about him.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
A Razor's razor, you know, there's always there's always an
h there. But he goes on about his job, you know,
such a normal this week for us. Obviously obviously it
we acknowledge that, acknowledge that it's going to be. It's
a big ocation, but we I think we we've been
(06:04):
focusing on on on ourselves and you know, getting ourselves.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Right for oh, for it's a it's you know, it's
a It's a fine line, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
As as a World Cup final has proved, you can
still play extremely well. The coach can put the best
laid plans in place. But when you've got the All
Blacks against South Africa, two of the best teams around,
unfortunately somebody is going to come second. But you know,
end of the day, it's still for fans.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
It's what we what what we absolutely live for. Is
it the same for you as a player, a game
like this, Yeah, obviously.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
These type of games and and you know, get to
play against South Africa is the you know what do
you call it? Teasted you as a player? You know
your character in and what you're about. But yeah, well
we'll be ready by s. I think it's going to
be It's going to be a very exciting match and
hopefully we will both him put a perform performance on
(07:02):
that day. The fans can be can be proud.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Of absolutely All Black prop forward part of this great
scrum unit we've got now of Tuanga Farci, thank you
very much for joining us. Thank you, thanks for leving
me great stuff for Tuanga Farcia, part of that very
good all black scrummaging unit coming up. We're going to
hear from Jacob Orham. Of course, the Black Caps a
(07:26):
full time permanent bowling coach. Now don't forget though, Three
am Sunday morning on Gold Sport and iHeart Radio.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
From the man on the ground himself, Elliot Smith commentary.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
I've have a few thoughts about too, about touring to
places like South Africa, having been there a few times myself.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
I might just have a little bit of wax, a
little bit of lyrical about that.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Later on, when you get to tour places like that
with the likes of Keith Quinn and the Peter Bush's
of this world, what a place that is to go.
The country's board.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Breakfast on your Friday morning on Gold Sport and iHeartRadio
after South Africa of course the wee small hours of
Sunday morning, it is the All Blacks taking on the
World Champions South Africans at Alice Park in Johannesburg and
joining us now to have a look at this from
the engine room of the All Blacks.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
In fact, the scrum that has been going so well
of late.
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Off a Tawangasi off, welcome to the show house. Things
going over there. The preparation been good.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Yeah, oh thanks for having me. Yeah, it's been great here.
Obviously it to place South Africa here on Saturday, but yeah,
we love coming here other people and yeah, looking forward
to the challenge opportunity on Saturday. Off.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Is it a bit special having sort of back to
back test matches almost like a mini series and mini tour,
especially to a place that we the is rugby in
a similar way to the way New Zealanders do.
Speaker 3 (01:06):
Yeah, obviously like the Argentinian Teast. Obviously get to play
in the first week and yeah both teams have I
got lock ech other and then you get to have
a go on on the week after. But lock the
country itself. We will get a lot of people outside
and and everywhere we go and other people who are
(01:28):
excited for that just mentioned. Obviously there's a lot of
history between the other two countries, and yeah, it's very exciting.
We can't wait.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
Okay, so what about the old you know, you would
have heard about the old stories of going up to
altitude and playing on the high volt Is that something
you still consider or is it less of an issue
in a one off game.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
Yeah, I don't words. I think we acknowledge all those
things when when we get here. Mostly it's going to
be tough, the hostile environment, but we look at things
as an opportunity, you know, the challenge, but it's also
an opportunity for us to know the challenge yourself, and
and there and performance that you know, thew Zealanders and
(02:13):
our stands back home, well we'll.
Speaker 1 (02:16):
You know, enjoy yeah too, right, how.
Speaker 2 (02:20):
But you know, I was a pretty average sort of
prop but I love the scrum and I believe the
scrum is integral and it's proved time and time again,
even though we don't have enough of them. But you
guys must be really rapped with the current scrum that
you're putting out there, and and it goes right through
all the props.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
We don't lose anything. In fact, we're dominating. How pleasing
is that.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
Yeah, we we're quite lucky back home. Obviously we've got first,
we've got we've got a look of good props, Our
prop and stock back home is as healthy. And also
we've got you know, some great coaches, scrum coaches over
the years and obviously doing a great job with us
at the moment. And and yeah, it's going to be
an exciting battle. I say, there's the spring box. Also
(03:05):
have got a very good scrum right through the the square.
Obviously you heard about the bomb squad and then how
they got back their work when they when they go on.
But yeah, we're confident and and and and our plan
and in the place that we have Llie and and
Tmighty obviously starting and then myself and Fletcher coming off
(03:28):
the bench. I think there's an opportunity there for us. Obviously, Oscar,
like you said, it has been going really well the
last two chisses. But we're looking for to say that
I think we you know, there's an opportunity for us
there to you know, to to have a dig at
the at the South Africans on Saturday.
Speaker 2 (03:47):
Yeah, does it frustrate you that there aren't as many
SCRAMs in the modern game, particularly test level, because I
think in that one of those Argentina there hadn't been
any and you came on and there were three or four,
so that must have been quite.
Speaker 3 (04:02):
Yeah, well that that was just unusual. You know, I
don't think I've seen and a lot of people saying
that they've never seen that before. Sixty minutes and tis
rugby without a scram. But as you saw, you know,
that's one part of our game that we you know,
that we're proud of and we think that that's going
strong for us. But yeah, we love SCRAMs obviously the
(04:28):
props and then I think that's a big part of
our game. But it comes down to obviously to time
and place. You know, condition can play a big part
of on the metch and on the match and you know, look,
we it's just a reflection of the game. I reckon obviously,
teams and players improving skills wise, and you know, like
(04:51):
there's list here and now and then tis forty so
you know we'll be hanging on for a scram.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Yeah too, right, what are you hearing out of the
South African camp? A bit of uh conjecture around whether
even Exibit will play, but it seems he's highly likely to.
Speaker 3 (05:07):
Now haven't. I haven't hit a lock at you know
what's going on, and they can but yeah, I honestly
don't know. He's a great player, and I'm sure they'll
don't do anything, you know, everything for for him to
be made by so because the opportunity for us and
and our pack to put again in term because obviously
(05:28):
he's one of the disc player.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
How's the coach his mood been this week? Razor is
he is he? You know he'd be he'd be you know,
so much riding on a game.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
Like this is he's sort of a normal self of
or if you noticed a bit of an edge about him.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
A Razor's razor, you know, there's always there's always an
h there. But he goes on about his job, you know,
such a normal this week for us. Obviously obviously it
we acknowledge that, acknowledge that it's going to be. It's
a big ocation, but we I think we we've been
(06:04):
focusing on on on ourselves and you know, getting ourselves.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Right for oh, for it's a it's you know, it's
a It's a fine line, isn't it.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
As as a World Cup final has proved, you can
still play extremely well. The coach can put the best
laid plans in place. But when you've got the All
Blacks against South Africa, two of the best teams around,
unfortunately somebody is going to come second. But you know,
end of the day, it's still for fans.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
It's what we what what we absolutely live for. Is
it the same for you as a player, a game
like this, Yeah, obviously.
Speaker 3 (06:39):
These type of games and and you know, get to
play against South Africa is the you know what do
you call it? Teasted you as a player? You know
your character in and what you're about. But yeah, well
we'll be ready by s. I think it's going to
be It's going to be a very exciting match and
hopefully we will both him put a perform performance on
(07:02):
that day. The fans can be can be proud.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Of absolutely All Black prop forward part of this great
scrum unit we've got now of Tuanga Farci, thank you
very much for joining us. Thank you, thanks for leving
me great stuff for Tuanga Farcia, part of that very
good all black scrummaging unit coming up. We're going to
hear from Jacob Orham. Of course, the Black Caps a
(07:26):
full time permanent bowling coach. Now don't forget though, Three
am Sunday morning on Gold Sport and iHeart Radio.
Speaker 1 (07:34):
From the man on the ground himself, Elliot Smith commentary.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
I've have a few thoughts about too, about touring to
places like South Africa, having been there a few times myself.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
I might just have a little bit of wax, a
little bit of lyrical about that.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Later on, when you get to tour places like that
with the likes of Keith Quinn and the Peter Bush's
of this world, what a place that is to go.
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Therapy Gecko
An unlicensed lizard psychologist travels the universe talking to strangers about absolutely nothing. TO CALL THE GECKO: follow me on https://www.twitch.tv/lyleforever to get a notification for when I am taking calls. I am usually live Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays but lately a lot of other times too. I am a gecko.