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'I've got to perform': Asafo Aumua discusses his RWC ambitions

(Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

With this year’s Rugby World Cup just a matter of months away, there are a number of players in New Zealand with a genuine point to prove in Super Rugby Pacific.

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Hurricanes hooker Asafo Aumua is one of them.

Aumua, 25, re-signed with New Zealand Rugby through to the end of 2025 in August last year even though he missed out on international selection with the All Blacks.

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All Blacks Samisoni Taukei’aho, Codie Taylor and Dane Coles are all regulars for the national team, and appear to be the frontrunners for his year’s World Cup squad.

But just because it appears to be that way, doesn’t mean it will.

Aumua has been sensational off the bench for the Hurricanes so far this season, and has been promoted to the starting team for their round four clash against the Waratahs on Friday.

Speaking with radio host Martin Devlin ahead of the round four blockbuster at Sky Stadium, Aumua admitted that he thinks about the All Blacks “every week.”

“I just like to focus week-to-week… I just try to put my best foot forward for the team, always about the team,” Aumua said on The Platform.

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“It does get into my mind, I do think about it every week – not all day.

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“Mostly game day… ‘I’ve got to perform today if I want to get into that squad’.”

The Hurricanes and Waratahs have shown glimpses of greatness throughout the early stages of this year’s campaign, but both teams are coming off losses in round three.

After starting their season with wins over the Reds and Rebels, the Hurricanes in a thriller by rivals the Blues at Sky Stadium on Saturday.

As for the Waratahs, they risk falling to a one-and-three record if they fail to beat the Hurricanes across the ditch this week.

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Following on from last year’s tense encounter between the two teams – which the Hurricanes by four – Aumua said he’s been “thinking about this game” ever since.

“I’ve been thinking about this game since the last time we played (the Waratahs), especially around our set-piece,” he added.

“Our scrum last year didn’t go well, some of the boys were subbed off before half-time.

“This game, I’m really looking forward to this one.

“I was in that starting front row, it was me and the other props, we’ve been talking about this game for a while now.

“We’ve just put our energy this week into our training and a few extras here and there.”

Captain Ardie Savea has been named to return at No. 8 for the Hurricanes, after serving a one game suspension for a throat-slitting gesture in Super Round.

Savea’s inclusion is one of three changes to the Hurricanes’ starting XV, including Aumua who will run out in the No. 2 jersey.

Winger Kini Naholo will also make his Hurricanes debut when the match kicks off at 7:05pm NZT on Friday.

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Andrew 845 days ago

Should have replaced the fading Taylor as backup hooker. Imagine being an opposition player having been battered about by Taukeiaho for 60 min seeing another cannon ball come on to replace him.

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AllyOz 3 hours ago
Has Quade Cooper solved a Lions riddle for Australia?

I also think that the lack of layers in the Australian system and the short season length also contributes to our lack of player development. All of the “three amigos” were in the Australian side from a very early age. We have Super Rugby but it is only 15 weeks long now (if you don’t make the finals - which our sides don’t typically do). And we only have 4 - 5 teams so, for 10s, there is only 1 or 2 spots up for grabs and one player is going to get most of the time. I imagine, in Europe where you have a longer season and then European Championship and then, in France, also a professional division below, a player of ability will get more than 15 games at the top level. There are tiers to progress through etc. The current 10 for France, on the All Blacks tour, has had 120 Top 14 games - we are putting blokes into a Wallabies squad after one or two good seasons (30 SR games at the most) and for others, like Sua’ali’i even sooner (but he did play at a high level in another code so he has had some time to develop).


We lack a tier or level, where players can develop that other comps have so that (1) they don’t need to be thrown in early (2) if they take a bit longer to develop there is a place for them to do it. You either have a place in one of the 4 (previously 5) sides or you go overseas, or you play at an amateur level. And also, you don’t have to push an older player out because, if you reach 24 or 25 and you haven’t made the Wallabies (or you aren’t a regular) then the prospect of playing OS is too financially enticing.

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