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Why Chiefs star Samisoni Taukei'aho is the 'world's best'
By Finn Morton
All Blacks great Ian Jones believes Samisoni Taukei’aho is the “best” hooker in world rugby following his sensational performance against the Crusaders on Friday.
Led by New Zealand internationals Taukei’aho, Damian McKenzie and Brodie Retallick, the Chiefs shocked the rugby world in Christchurch to open their season.
Venturing to the South Island of New Zealand, the Chiefs took on the defending champions and won – although, that undersells how emphatic their performance was.
After tailing 10-nil, Taukei’aho was among the standouts for the Chiefs as they clawed their way back into the contest.
The star hooker was in the middle of everything, and had the equal-most carries out of any player by half-time, and was also leading the tackle count for the Chiefs.
By the end of the contest, which the visitors won 31-10, Taukei’aho had carried the ball 14 times and made 12 tackles.
Former international lock Ian Jones gave Taukei’aho a “shout-out” on New Zealand radio this week.
“I need to give a big shout-out to Samisoni,” Jones said on SENZ’s Chiefs Mana.
“I said last week (he’s the) world’s best five-10 metres out, there is no question in the world about that but (I asked) is he the world’s best for the other kind of 80 metres of the paddock, and he was.
“His work rate was phenomenal. His ball carries, both sides was phenomenal.
“He did a lot of momentum building for the Chiefs, he was active everywhere, clearly when you looked at it (he) outshone his opposition which was great, but he did a lot of work.
“I was stoked with his fitness levels from game one so clearly he’s done a lot of work aerobically.”
Looking to extend their winning start to the season to two matches, the Chiefs are set to face Moana Pasifika in Super Round this weekend.
All Super Rugby teams will play at AAMI Park over three nights, including a blockbuster between the Crusaders and Highlanders to kick things off.
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Latest Comments
Nah, that just needs some more variation. Chip kicks, grubber stabs, all those. Will Jordan showed a pretty good reason why the rush was bad for his link up with BB.
If you have an overlap on a rush defense, they naturally cover out and out and leave a huge gap near the ruck.
It also helps if both teams play the same rules. ARs set the offside line 1m past where the last mans feet were😅
Go to commentsYeah nar, should work for sure. I was just asking why would you do it that way?
It could be achieved by outsourcing all your IP and players to New Zealand, Japan, and America, with a big Super competition between those countries raking it in with all of Australia's best talent to help them at a club level. When there is enough of a following and players coming through internally, and from other international countries (starting out like Australia/without a pro scene), for these high profile clubs to compete without a heavy australian base, then RA could use all the money they'd saved over the decades to turn things around at home and fund 4 super sides of their own that would be good enough to compete.
That sounds like a great model to reset the game in Aus. Take a couple of decades to invest in youth and community networks before trying to become professional again. I just suggest most aussies would be a bit more optimistic they can make it work without the two decades without any pro club rugby bit.
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