‘When two Titans meet’: Ex-All Black ready for ‘world-class’ Ethan de Groot

Former All Black Jeffery Toomaga-Allen couldn’t stop smiling when asked about the prospect of packing down opposite “world-class” prop Ethan de Groot for the first time on Friday.

Toomaga-Allen, who played one test for New Zealand in 2013 but was more recently capped by Samoa, has been named to start at tighthead prop for the Queensland Reds this week.

The 33-year-old joins another former All Black, Alex Hodgman in Queensland’s front row, with try-scoring machine Matt Faessler set to line up alongside the pair in the No. 2 jersey.

While the Reds are without Wallabies Fraser McReight and Tate McDermott through suspension, coach Les Kiss has named a strong side to take on the touring Highlanders.

One of the matchups to look out for is Toomaga-Allen against de Groot. De Groot would have to be considered a certainty to take the field for the All Blacks against England later this year.

Toomaga-Allen joked about WWE’s WrestleMania and potentially giving it to the Highlanders enforcer before explaining why the challenge that de Groot poses is one he “can’t wait” for.

“Oh mate I can’t wait,” Toomaga-Allen said on Stan Sports’ The Night Before Gameday.

“I can’t say it on here but WrestleMania was what, last week?

“Nah, I can’t wait. He is a world-class loosehead prop.

“To be fair I am a big fan. I saw him come up through playing with the (Southland) Stags and playing for the All Blacks… earnt that loosehead jersey.

“Seeing him run out with the Landers will be good. I haven’t actually scrummed against him so given that he’s world-class I always want to test myself.

“I’m ready for the challenge… when two Titans meet, that’s what you want.”

Toomaga-Allen is excited for his positional match-up against one of the best props in the world, but the experienced front-rower also understands what this match means for the Reds’ season.

This is a fixture that both the Reds and Highlanders are desperate to win. With Super Rugby Pacific passing its halfway point, this fixture has a finals-esque feel to it.

The Reds haven’t won since their 53-26 win over the Melbourne Rebels on March 15, and the Highlanders have lost four matches on the trot dating back to the 8^th of March in Sydney.

Queensland were widely considered the favourites last time out against Moana Pasifika in New Zealand, but Les Kiss’ men were stunned 17-14 at Okara Park.

“If I’m honest it’s been quite sharp and brutally honest and training,” Toomaga-Allen discussed when asked about training.

“Les, straight in the changing room after that Moana game, just as you want from a head coach is a dose of truth with a dose of reality.

“We’re not far off and we haven’t been far off. A couple of narrow losses.

“But just knowing and believing that we can do it is important to us and Les really drives that and has driven that this week.

“It’s going to be a good game on Friday.”