"It's never going to happen again." That's the bold declaration from All Blacks hooker Samisoni Taukei'aho as he guarantees that the New Zealand scrum will not be dominated by the Springboks like it was during their last encounter. This comes after the Springboks crushed the All Blacks' scrum in the 62nd minute at Eden Park, setting up a try that was a slap in the face with a wet rugby sock for the New Zealand team.
Taukei'aho, stepping into the starting role after Codie Taylor was sidelined with a concussion, is not just talking tough. "We’ve done our homework, we’ve done our review and we’ll be better," he stated, fully aware of the challenge ahead when they meet again in Wellington on Saturday.
"Being an All Blacks forward, that’s not our standard,"
The hooker's personal comeback story adds another layer of drama to Saturday's Test at the Cake Tin, a venue that holds bittersweet memories for him. Last year, a ruptured achilles here cost him a season, including a World Cup campaign. "Obvious injuries are a part of rugby and it was unfortunate for me that it happened here in Wellington," Taukei'aho reflected. With support from forwards coach Jase Ryan, he’s bounced back, feeling stronger and more prepared. "I feel like my body is in a good spot. I’m confident in my achilles and I’m raring to go. I can’t wait to be out there," he added enthusiastically.
All Blacks coach Scott Robertson has shown his faith in Taukei'aho’s resilience and ability to adjust his game. "Samisoni has been an All Black for a long period of time and he will tweak his game to make some adjustments where he can get a little bit better for this weekend. He’s played the majority of the games for us this year and he’s good to go," Robertson endorsed.
As the All Blacks gear up to rewrite the narrative against their formidable rivals, all eyes will be on Taukei'aho and his teammates to see if they can turn their words into action and hold their ground in what promises to be a scrum showdown for the ages.
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