Tupou Vaa’i is ready to put the lessons from his mentors into practice and stand his ground when the All Blacks tackle the Springboks on Saturday.
Vaa’i is set to partner returning captain Scott Barrett – fit again after a finger injury – at Ellis Park as the All Blacks look to avenge their two 2023 defeats to the Springboks.
The Springboks are currently sweating over the availability of centurion Eben Etzebeth, who has been labelled as doubtful as he has a leg niggle. Should Etzebeth be ruled out, one of Pieter-Steph du Toit, Ben-Jason Dixon or Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg would be given the No 4 jersey.
Regardless of who he has to front up against, Vaa’i said he is determined not to take a backward step when tackling the ferocious Bok pack.
“To be fair, I will definitely stand my ground,” Vaa’i said.
“As any player who plays rugby will do. Both players just want the best from their team, we will just have to see really.”
The 34-Test lock has stepped into the void opened up by the injury to Patrick Tuipulotu and departures of Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick.
“I guess I had some pretty big shoes to fill, and I felt like I have done that,” Vaa’i said.
“I have had a lot of help with Jase [forwards coach Jason Ryan] and Ceri [Evans, forensic psychiatrist] around my mental skills and obviously my locking partners Sam Darry and Josh Lord helped me out, which was awesome.”
All Blacks forwards coach Ryan is delighted with Vaa’i’s progress as the 24-year-old looks to establish himself on the Test scene.
“He [Retallick] has sort of set him up, and as did Sam Whitelock when he was at the All Blacks,” Ryan said.
“It is great to see those younger boys come in and take their opportunity and also play well. I thought he was outstanding in the second test against Argentina, probably played his best test match as an All Black.
“The sky’s the limit for him. It is exciting.”
Photo: Hannah Peters/Getty Images
The post All Blacks lock sends warning to Boks appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Src: sarugbymag.co.za
